Swimming World Five Stars Alicia Mathieu, Samantha Shellem Commit

PHOENIX, Arizona, September 30. THE female recruits in the Class of 2010 are making their decisions, and making them fast. A few days after four-star recruits Sara Delay (Indiana) and Raquel Raybon (Clemson) came off the board, five-star prospects Alicia Mathieu and Samantha Shellem made their collegiate pledges.

Mathieu joined Kaitlin Frehling in Florida's Class of 2010 as both five stars will be joining Gregg Troy next season.

While Frehling is a sprinter, Mathieu will provide the Gators does distance help with long course senior national cuts in the 400-meter free (4:19.29) and 800-meter free (8:44.99). The senior from SoNoCo Swimming also would have qualified to swim in the 1650-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division I Championships last year with a 16:10.61. She also has a Division I B cut in the 500-yard free (4:47.62).

"I felt that UF was an overall perfect fit for me," Mathieu told Swimming World. "Choosing the right school for me ultimately came down to whether or not I got along well with the team and coaches. The coaches are exactly what I was looking for in the sense that I feel comfortable around them, and they know how to take a good athlete and make them into a great athlete. Even though there are nearly 80 people on the swim team, they are all close and welcoming, which is something that I want to be a part of. Although the program is challenging, I believe that is what is needed to perform at the best of your ability. The program is one of the best in the country which is proven by the large amounts of success that the team has had."

Shellem, who swims for La Mirada Armada in California, will join the defending national champion Golden Bears in her home state. She should provide Teri McKeever with an all around freestyle threat with long course senior national cuts in the 200-meter free (2:01.17), 400-meter free (4:10.98) and 800-meter free (8:40.92). She also owns times that would clear the NCAA Division I B cuts in the 200-yard free (1:48.11) and 500-yard free (4:46.35).

"Cal has everything that I am looking for in a university and a swim program," Shellem told Swimming World. "It is a great school with a great swim team. I am very excited."

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