W&L Women's Swimmers Honored by ODAC

SALEM, Va. – The Old Dominion Athletic Conference recently announced its all-conference women’s swimming team and W&L led the way with 13 first-team selections and 17 overall honorees.

In addition to its 13 First Team All-ODAC selections, W&L placed four swimmers on the second team and garnered four of the five major conference awards. Senior Sarah Simpson (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) took home Swimmer of the Year honors, first-year Brittany Ross (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) was named Rookie of the Year, senior Jenna Worsham (Cumming, Ga./Wesleyan School) earned ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete laurels and Head Coach Kami Gardner was named the conference’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Simpson, Ross and Worsham were all First Team All-ODAC selections and were joined on the team by senior Lynn Bazzel (Atlanta, Ga./Lovett), junior Tess Hayden (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier), sophomores Joeclyn Cassada (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day), Dana Fredericks (Yorktown, Va./York), Katie Salvati (Roselle Park, N.J./Mount Saint Mary Academy) and Elizabeth Starnes (Harrison, Tenn./Girls Prep), and first-years Izzy Brassfield (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School), Ann McCampbell (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady School), Rachel Mensch (Edina, Minn./Edina) and Delaney Rolfe (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park).

Second Team All-ODAC honorees included sophomore Brielle Weinstein (Summerville, S.C./Pinewood Prep), and first-years Megan Bock (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel), Krista Camp (Media, Pa./Episcopal Academy), and Colleen Moore (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield).

Simpson had a strong showing at the ODAC conference meet en-route to earning Swimmer of the Year honors.  She broke three school records and recorded six first-place finishes. Simpson swam the 200 free in a school-record time of 1:56.10 and was also a member of two school and conference-best relay squads: The 800 free relay (7:55.31) and 400 free relay (3:37.68). Simpson also claimed top finishes in the 50 free (24.93), 200 free relay (1:38.91) and 400 medley relay (4:01.47). A team captain this season, Simpson is a four-time First Team All-ODAC honoree.

Ross also swam well at the conference meet as she was named Rookie of the Year. She broke school records in the 100 fly (59.54) and 200 fly (2:11.54) and joined Simpson on the top-finishing 400 free relay squad (4:01.47).

Worsham, an English and theatre double-major, is also a team captain and four-time First Team All-ODAC selection.  She was a member of two school and conference record-breaking relay squads at the ODAC conference meet, joining Simpson and Ross on the 400 free relay (3:37.68), while also swimming on the 800 free relay (7:55.31). Worsham also claimed event victories in the 200 IM (2:12.43) and 200 medley relay (1:51.01).

Gardner, in her third season at W&L, led the Generals to their 20th ODAC swimming title. During her time in Lexington, Gardner has coached 10 major award winners, including the last three swimmer of the year and rookie of the year honorees.

Bazzel recorded strong finishes at the ODAC conference meet, placing second in the 200 breast (2:29.78) and participating with the first-place finishing 200 medley relay squad (1:51.01). She was joined on the 200 medley relay squad by fellow first-team honorees Cassada and Brassfield. Cassada also claimed top finishes in the 100 back (1:00.42) and 400 medley relay (4:01.47), while Brassfield notched first-place times in the 400 free relay (3:37.68) and 200 free relay (1:38.91), in addition to finishing second in the 50 free (24.96).

Fredericks was also a member of the winning 400 medley relay squad, and took top honors in the 100 breast (1:08.98), 200 breast (2:28.97) and second in the 200 IM (2:13.98). Hayden claimed a top finish in the 200 free relay (1:38.91), while claiming second-place finishes in the 100 back (1:00.70) and 200 back (2:11.63). Salvati had first-place finishes in the 400 IM (4:45.37) and 200 back (2:10.69), while McCampbell notched a top individual finish in the 1650 free (18:02.96). Starnes and Rolfe were both members of the winning 800 free relay (7:55.31), and Rolfe also recorded a second-place finish in the 500 free (5:16.63). Mensch took second in the 400 IM with a time of 4:51.24.

On the second team, Bock was a member of the winning 400 free relay (3:37.68) at ODAC’s and also recorded a third-place finish in the 200 breast (2:32.18). Weinstein notched a third-place finish in the 100 back (1:02.04) and fourth-place finish in the 200 back (2:15.44), while Camp touched in third in the 400 IM (4:56.25) and fifth in the 200 back (2:15.46).

Washington and Lee finished the 2009-10 season with a 6-5 overall record and the conference title was W&L’s third in a row.

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