FOREST, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Women's Swimming Team has been picked to finish seventh at the 2013 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships, ODAC officials announced Friday. The poll is voted on by each of the league's nine coaches.

Emory & Henry is under the direction of Head Coach Dave Griffore, who is in his first year as mentor of the Wasps. Griffore, who was selected as the first-ever full-time coach in program history in the fall of 2011, spent last year recruiting and making renovations to the E&H Aquatics Center. Griffore brings over 10 years of collegiate coaching experience including, two years as the Head Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Wasps roster is a group of seven freshmen, who are poised to make waves in the ODAC this year. Leading the way is Lauren Frizzell (Blacksburg, Va.), who will compete in distance events after a successful career at Blacksburg High School where she was the runner-up in the 500-yard freestyle in 2012.

Also joining E&H this fall is Payton Shirey (Seaford, Del.) a sprint-freestyler, and the 2012 Delaware State Champion in the 50-yard freestyle. Shirey finished in the top three in the 50-free three-straight years. Sam Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) was also a two-time NISCA top-16 finisher and will compete for the Wasps in the butterfly and backstroke.

Other recruits for Emory & Henry are Sophia Alonge (Vienna, Va.), Taylore Guardalabene (Charlotte, N.C.), Tyler Ann Herron (Calhoun, Ga.) and Nicole Powell (Apex, N.C.). Each of these swimmers will make an immediate impact on the team and help propel the Wasps to the top half of the ODAC.

Washington and Lee University is picked to win the league for the sixth-straight year with 64 points and eight first-place votes. The Generals currently have 22 ODAC championships under their caps. Randolph-Macon College earned the other top nod and is second with 57 points.

Bridgewater College and Sweet Briar College are tied for third with 45 points. Hollins University, Greensboro College, E&H, Notre Dame of Maryland University and Guilford College round out the poll.

Emory & Henry will open the 2012-13 season at the 2012 ODAC Relays hosted by Washington and Lee on Saturday, October 20. The first gun is set for noon.

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