Contact: Chris Urban

Dec. 1, 2004

Swimmer Katie Bellew has signed national letters of intent to attend Cleveland State next year and compete on the women's swimming and diving team. Head coach Mike Lehto made the announcement at the end of the early signing period.

Bellew, a senior at Tallasee (Ala.) High School, excels in butterfly and breaststroke events as well as the individual medley. She competed for the Montgomery (Ala.) YMCA, qualifying for the YMCA Nationals in all three events.

"Katie will be a strong competitor for us in the fly, breast and IM events," Lehto said. "She has put up times that are comparable to some of our current swimmers."

The women's swimmers are in action this weekend (Dec. 3-5) at the Miami Invitational in Oxford, Ohio.