June 15, 2010

Contact: Greg Murphy

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kara Sherwood, who won the 2008 Ohio state championship, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Cleveland State women's tennis program beginning with the 2010-11 academic year.

She will have four years of eligibility.

"I am very excited to have a student-athlete of Kara's ability join our program," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "Kara should make an immediate impact on the team in both singles and doubles and I can't wait to begin working with her as we take aim at winning our first Horizon League Championship. Our lineup this season will be the best and deepest we have had in the program and I look forward to Kara contributing to what should be a very exciting year."

Sherwood played her first three years at Mentor H.S. before skipping her senior year of tennis to focus on open tournaments.

In her three years at Mentor playing for head coach Joe Morgan, Sherwood compiled a 77-6 record, advancing to the Division I state tournament all three years. She was a combined 6-2 at the state tournament, including a 6-2, 6-0 win in the state title match as a junior.

She finished her junior year with a 33-2 record.

In addition, Sherwood finished in the top eight of the state tournament as both a freshman and sophomore.A three-time team MVP, Sherwood was undefeated in regular season play during her career.

Sherwood was honored by being selected as the News Herald's Player of the Decade and was also selected to the Plain Dealer's Best of the Best team.

In the latest rankings, Sherwood was tabbed eighth in Ohio and 34th in the Great Lakes region.