May 19, 2010

Contact: Renee Adam

Cleveland, Ohio - Five student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to join the Cleveland State women's swimming and diving team for the 2010-11 season, as head coach Wally Morton hopes to improve on CSU's record setting 2009-10 season.

Joining the Vikings will be Alexandra DiMasso (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), Alexandra Johansson (Sundsvall, Sweden/Hedbergska Skolan), Nicole Kolis (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Berea), Christine Kopacko (Shiremanstown, Pa./Mechanicsburg) and Amanda Pallija (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth). All five will enter CSU as freshmen with four years of eligibility.

"When we add these five spring signees to our fall signees Hannah Morris and Ashley Rossi, we have addressed several areas of need with our 2010-11 recruiting class while only losing one senior to graduation," Morton said. "We think this class can provide help not only at the top end of events, but also help in terms of quality depth, which was something we lacked despite our success last year."

"One of the nicest things about this class is that two of these recruits have older siblings who are already current members of our Team. It speaks very well of the experience that our student-athletes enjoy at Cleveland State when their younger siblings see us as a possible College destination."

DiMasso, sister to current Viking diver Matt DiMasso, joins Cleveland State after earning most valuable diver honors three times at Sycamore High. She was a district qualifier all four years of her high school campaign as well as a state qualifier as a sophomore and a team captain her junior season.

"Alex has been one of the best divers in her district during her high school career," Morton said. "With the help of Rich Karban, we are very excited about Alex's potential as a diver for the Vikings. Equally important is that Alex is a great student and her academic achievements will fit in very well with the goals we have for our team in the classroom."

Johansson, who was a Swedish Junior National medalist and a member of the Swedish Junior National Team, will add to the depth in all sprint events for the Vikings, swimming freestyle, backstroke and butterfly.

"Alexandra should help us immediately in several strokes as she is one of the best age group sprinters in Sweden," Morton said. "Our relays have a chance to move to the next level in the Horizon League with Alex in the fold and for that we are very excited that she will be part of the team."

Kolis will also be able to swim multiple events for the Vikings, having experience with backstroke, freestyle and the IM. She is a five-time varsity record holder at Berea High and was named the MVP as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Kolis was a zone qualifier during her high school campaign as a well as a state qualifier her senior season in the 100 back.

"Nikki has been one of the best swimmers in the Cleveland area for many years now, and we are always very excited to add outstanding local talent to the mix," said Morton. "Nikki should help immediately in back and free, and has the potential to be one of the top swimmers on the team."

Kopacko, who holds the Mechanicsburg record in the 100 free, will join CSU after qualifying for the state meet as a sophomore, junior and senior. She was also a state finalist her senior season in the 100 freestyle.

"Christine is a raw talent who made great strides her senior year, especially in the 100 free," Morton said. "Christine has very high goals, and we are very excited that she's chosen CSU as the place that will help her reach those goals."

Pallija, sister to current Viking swimmer Allsion Pallija, will add depth to the freestyle and IM events for CSU next season. She was a district qualifier all four years at Wadsworth High as well as a state qualifier her junior and senior seasons.

"Amanda is an exceptional multi-sport athlete and we were very excited to hear that she chose to concentrate on swimming at the college level," said Morton. "Her sister Allison had an outstanding freshmen year in the pool and the classroom, and Amanda should do the same. Amanda will provide immediate depth in the sprint and IM events, and her competitive nature will help her have a great impact on the team in workouts and competition."

These five will be joining Hannah Morris and Ashley Rossi who signed with the Vikings during the early signing period.

Morris, a senior at Marietta high school, who placed second in the 100 fly at the Division II state championship last year, will add quality depth to all fly events for the Vikings.

Rossi, a native of Clearwater, Florida, will help CSU in back and distance events after qualifying for the state championship in distance events. She joins the squad after swimming at the Clearwater Aquatic Club, one of the best clubs in the state of Florida.