November 21, 2005

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech head coach Ned Skinner announced on Monday that 10 athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to swim for the Hokies for the upcoming 2006-07 school year. Eight women and two men comprise the early signing class.

"We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of student-athletes to our program," Skinner said. "Each swimmer or diver carries the personal, academic and athletic values that our program has come to represent. We believe that these incoming freshmen will continue our quest to be known as a perennial top 20 program."

Abby Barney (Virginia Beach, Va.) wil compete in the butterfly and sprint freestyle events for the Hokies. She will graduate from First Colonial High School, which is the same program that produced current Tech athletes Jordan McHorney (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Stephanie Jones (Virginia Beach, Va.) as well as signee Michael Lewis.

Mary Teresa Boland (Purcellville, Va.), a senior at Loudon Valley High School, will compete in the breaststroke events for the Hokies. A state champion breaststroker, Mary Teresa chose Tech over West Virginia, George Washington, East Carolina and George Mason.

Christine Currier (St. Simons Island, Ga.), a senior at Glynn Academy, will be competing for Virginia Tech in the individual medley and distance events next season. She is a member of the 2004-05 Georgia state champion 400 freestyle relay team.

Kelly deMarrais (Bernardsville, N.J.), a senior at Bernards High School, will bolster Tech's mid-freestyle events. She is expected to compete in the 200 and 500 freestyle events as well as the 200 backstroke and 100 freestyle.

Heather Fulton (St. Louis, Mo.), a diver from Pattonville High School, is hoping to replace two graduating seniors next season. Head diving coach Bert Locklin said: "We look for her to make an immediate impact and help make sure our program does not skip a beat."

Julie Sablik (Roanoke, Va.) will graduate from Cave Springs High School this year, and add to the Hokies' butterfly and freestyle events next season. She is a member of Carter Center Aquatics along with current Hokies Jake Bova (Roanoke, Va.) and Claire Dickey (Roanoke, Va.). Sablik is a multiple event state champion and record holder.

Sara Shapiro (Franklin, Tenn.) is from Brentwood High School. She will add to Tech's backstroke and freestyle events next season. She chose Tech over Tennessee, Clemson and Florida State.

Katie Suhr (Atlanta, Ga.) a senior at Lakeside High School, will compete in sprint freestyle and individual medley events for the Hokies. She is a U.S. National qualifier and a member of the Dynamo Swim Team along with current Tech captain Juliana Daniell (Atlanta, Ga.)

Michael Lewis (Virginia Beach, Va.) swam with the Tide Swim Team until his junior year when he moved to Bolles Boarding School in Jacksonville, Fla. He will contribute to the men's 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley next season.

Griffin Lutterbein (Manakin-Sabot, Va.) will compete for the Hokies in the distance freestyle events. Lutterbein is a U.S. National qualifier, who swims with the NOVA Swim Team.

The current Hokies will be in action again on Dec. 8, when it competes in the Virginia Tech Sprint Championships at 4 p.m., at War Memorial Pool.