Swimming Coach Named ODAC ‘Coach of the Year’

Vixen swimmers finish third in conference

CAMERON ADAMS
Sports information director

Alex Kuhn

On Feb. 17, first-year head swimming coach Alex Kuhn was honored by his fellow coaches as the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s “Coach of the Year.”

The award was presented at the conclusion of the 2008 ODAC/Atlantic States, at which the Vixens finished third among ODAC schools and third overall.

The three-day meet saw five new school records, 12 season-best times and six lifetime-best times by the Sweet Briar swimmers. Sophomore Hannah Hesser captured two second-place finishes and five third-place finishes. She swam a lifetime best in the 100-yard butterfly and was a member of two record-breaking relay teams.

First-year Melissa Simpson, daughter of chemistry instructor Pam Simpson, joined Hesser on both record-breaking relays. She set three school records and also captured one second-place finish and six third-place finishes.

Sweet Briar finished the regular season 12-2 overall and third in the ODAC with a 5-2 mark. Under Kuhn, the Vixens set nine school records this winter and won 65 percent of their races during the dual-meet season.

Coach, Student-Athletes Attend NCAA Leadership Conference

Student-athletes Kat Alexander ’11 and Dori Rucker ’09, along with head lacrosse coach Hillary London, represented Sweet Briar at the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Leadership Conference held last month in Dallas.

According to the conference’s Web site, the three-day workshops are “designed to encourage student-athletes to become confident change agents on their campuses and in their communities and to provide a forum for student-athletes, coaches, administrators and faculty to build partnerships, develop leadership skills, and discuss Division III issues that impact student-athletes.”

“Going into the conference, I had a certain idea about the ways in which I lead, but the weekend changed my outlook and revealed strengths I didn’t know I had,” Alexander said.

As part of the conference, each institutional team identified an issue impacting its school. Alexander and Rucker chose to focus on fan participation.

Working together and employing information presented at the workshop, the SBC team developed an action plan, which they will implement on campus over the next few months.

The Division III Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference was fully funded by the NCAA. Each participating institution selected two student-athletes and one full- or part-time representative of the athletics department to attend.

At least one student-athlete had to be a member of the school’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee and each team member had to represent a different sport. SBC’s athletics department chose Alexander and Rucker because both have shown strong leadership qualities as members of the soccer and volleyball teams, respectively.

“It was one of the most intense experiences of my life and definitely in a good way,” Alexander said. “To be chosen to attend is an incredible honor and I wouldn’t exchange it for anything.”

Girls and Women in Sports Clinic Draws 31

Four the fourth year, Sweet Briar coaches and student-athletes helped run a Girls and Women in Sports Clinic. The clinic, held Feb. 9, offered soccer, swimming and tennis and drew 31 girls ages 5 to 13.

Virginia Amateur Sports, Inc., in conjunction with area parks and recreation departments, the United States Tennis Association and local corporations, sponsored the 10th-annual clinic.

Girls and Women in Sports clinics are held at five area colleges each year on the first Saturday after National Girls and Women in Sports Day. This year NGWSD was celebrated Feb. 6.

According to the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Web site, “NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women’s sports.

“Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.”

Special SBC Faculty/Staff Rate for Upcoming Friends of Athletics Golf Tournament

A special registration rate is available through March 14 for any Sweet Briar community member who wishes to register for the Fourth Annual Friends of Athletics Golf Tournament.

The tournament is Friday, May 2 at Poplar Grove Golf Club.

This special rate is open to Sweet Briar faculty, staff, students and SBC community members. Registration fees with the special rate are $75 for individuals or $300 for a team of four.

Fees include golf, cart, boxed lunch, dinner, Sweet Briar Athletics’ gifts and Friends of Athletics membership. Registration must be received by March 14 to receive the special price.

This captain’s choice tournament will feature a hole-in-one contest for a semester of free tuition, a “beat the pro” competition, golf carts equipped with global positioning systems, door prizes and awards for teams that finish first, second and third.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Sweet Briar College athletic program.

Tournament play begins at 12:30 p.m. with a shotgun start. A dinner for all participants catered by the Kirkley Hotel will conclude the tournament.

To register online visit http://www.sbc.edu/athletics/foagolf_regform.html. For more information, contact Blaise Whittle Ext. 6305.