LEXINGTON, Va. – The Sweet Briar College swim team opened the 2026-27 season at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Relays on Saturday at the Washington and Lee Natatorium, competing in seven women's relay events and earning team points in both the 3x50 backstroke and 3x50 breaststroke relays.
Sweet Briar began the meet in the 100 freestyle relay, where the A relay of first-year
MaryJane Ligday (Mechanicsville, Va.), senior
Julia Elliott (Norfolk, Va.), junior
Emily Carter (Kermit, W. Va.), and sophomore
Ava Powers (Crandall, Texas) stopped the clock at 1:01.08. The B relay followed in 1:09.29 with juniors
Karissa Boyce (Red Rock, Texas) and
Catherine Schofield (Baltimore, Md.), sophomore
Gracie Sheridan (Waynesboro, Va.), and junior Rauwen
Panchmatia (Farmville, Va.) in the water.
The Vixens returned for the 3x50 backstroke relay, as Carter, Powers, and Elliott combined for a 15th-place finish in 2:08.72. Carter led off in 39.22, Powers posted a 43.17 split, and Elliott anchored the relay in 46.33.
In the 3x50 breaststroke relay, Sweet Briar earned 1.5 points with a tie for 15th place. Ligday, junior
Carlee Minyard (Jacksonville, Fla.), and first-year
Lizzy Leotaud (Tucson, Ariz.) recorded a team time of 2:05.54.
Sweet Briar closed out its middle portion of the meet in the 50-100-150-200 freestyle relay, clocking 6:47.19. Minyard opened with the 50-yard leg in 1:21.64, followed by Elliott on the 100-yard leg in 2:16.46. Boyce swam the 150-yard leg before Ligday finished the 200-yard anchor leg in 1:46.83.
The Vixens then competed in the 200 medley relay, where Carter, Ligday, Boyce, and Elliott finished in 2:42.52. Carter started the relay with a 39.29 backstroke split, Ligday followed with a 36.36 breaststroke split, Boyce completed the butterfly leg in 50.98, and Elliott anchored the freestyle in 35.89.
Sweet Briar concluded the day in the 200 freestyle relay. Ligday, Carter, Minyard, and Powers combined for a 2:23.35 finish. Ligday opened in 28.62, Carter turned in a 34.44 split, Minyard swam 42.11, and Powers closed the relay in 38.18.
Highlights
- Ligday competed in five of the relay events, the most out of any Sweet Briar swimmer, in her collegiate debut.
- Leotaud, Panchmatia, and Schofield all also made their collegiate swim debut today.
What's Next
The Vixens will head to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) for action against the Keydets and Hollins on Oct. 10th.
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