May 28, 2008
Contact: Greg Murphy
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Four student-athletes from Ohio will join the Cleveland State cross country program beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.
Andria Bazilevich (North Olmsted, Ohio/North Olmsted), Brittany Elmlinger (Attica, Ohio/Seneca East) and Kelly Zaleski (Orrville, Ohio/Dalton) have all signed national letters of intent to run cross country at Cleveland State beginning in the fall of 2008, while Ciara Seitz will also join the program beginning with the 2008-09 season.
"This is an outstanding group that we are bringing in and will be the face of our program for years to come," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "All four runners possess a tremendous amount of potential and we are excited that they will be coming to Cleveland State. In addition to excelling in cross country, all four are outstanding students and are the type of student-athletes that we are continuing to attract to the program."
A four-year letterwinner at North Olmsted High, Bazilevich was an all-district honoree and three-time regional qualifier. In addition, she served as team captain and was selected as the team most valuable runner.
Elmlinger earned four letters in cross country, as well as three in track and field at Seneca East High, serving as team captain of the cross country squad. She was a state qualifier in both cross country and track, earning All-Ohio honors with a fourth place finish in the 4x400 and an eighth place showing in the 4x800 events at the state track meet. Elmlinger maintained a 4.0 grade point average and was a three-time Academic All-Ohio selection in both sports.
Zaleski lettered four times at Dalton High and was a four-time regional and one time state qualifier. In addition, she competed in the 800-meter run in track and qualified for the regional championships. A member of the honor roll, she carries a 4.0 grade point average.
Seitz, who is ranked second in her class at Normandy High, is a two-time all-conference selection (2005, 07) and was voted the team MVP as a senior. A member of the National Honor Society, Seitz will join former high school teammates Allison Craine and Audrey and Julie Piotrowski in the Viking program.
CSU finished in ninth place at the 2007 Horizon League Championship, marking the second straight season that the Vikings placed ahead of another school at the league championships. It was the first time since 1996-97 that the Vikings finished ahead of at least one league school in back-to-back seasons.
