Dec. 16, 2004

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Thursday, December 16, 2004) Gymnastics Head Coach Tom Farden has announced the signing of three prep standouts to national letters of intent to compete for the Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team in next season. Starlyn Bell Schwartz, Alex King and Chelsea Unold each announced their intentions to compete for Southeast during the NCAA's Early Signing Period.

Schwartz is a Level 10 Regionals qualifier from Florida.

She is a member of the National Honors Society currently maintaining a 3.96 GPA

"Starlyn has a great vault and is looking to be a strong bar worker," said Coach Farden. "Her grace and style on floor will serve our team well."

King was a Level 9 Western Nationals medalist on the bars and on the vault last year.

"Alex has a very dynamic vault and is an excellent floor worker," said Coach Farden. "We are extremely pleased to have her joining our program."

Unold is 5-6 and comes to Southeast from Plymouth, Minnesota where she attended Osseo Senior High School. She finished 2nd on the vault at the Level 9 Western Nationals in 2004.

She's the daughter of Thaddeus Unold & Virginia Cassidy. She is a member of the National Honor Society. She plans to major in elementary education upon her arrival at Southeast.

"Chelsea has power on all the events," said Coach Farden. "She has been learning a ton of high level skills that will greatly enhance our overall team's caliber of skills."

Their signings bring the final count of incoming athletes for next season to six. Kelsey Stauffer, Maureen Grimaldi and Sandra Blake also signed NLI's earlier last month.

"With the last three commitments I firmly believe this is one of my finest recruiting classes since I have been on staff here at Southeast," said Coach Farden.