May 21, 2002

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami women's swimming and diving program announces the signing of two more student-athletes to its already exemplary Class of 2006. Laura Armbruster (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) and Ellen Koch (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) have agreed to attend Miami beginning this fall.

Armbruster brings with her top-eight finishes in the breaststroke and individual medley at the Ohio High School Swimming and Diving Championships and a 4.0 grade point average. A versatile athlete, she also was one of the top players on North Royalton's conference championship volleyball team.

Expecting to major in biology, Koch (pronounced Coke) reached the finals in both the butterfly and IM at the Pennsylvania High School Swimming and Diving Championships. A 3.8 student, she graduated in the top 10 percent of her class.

"I am looking forward to working with Laura and Ellen over the next four years," head coach Dave Jennings said. "They are well-rounded individuals who, if they continue to commit themselves, will be solid contributors for our team."

He continued, "The signing of these two young women concludes an outstanding recruiting year for us. Hopefully, the strength of this class will manifest itself in the same way this last one did."

The RedHawks are coming off a season in which they posted their best ever dual meet record (14-1), went undefeated in the Mid-American Conference for the first time since 1997 and captured their 12th MAC championship.