Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 09, 2009

PREP GIRLS' SWIMMING: Vlasic signs to swim for New Mexico State

Squalicum standout Jessica Vlasic has signed an NCAA Division I letter of intent to continue her swimming career at New Mexico State University in the fall. When she gets to Las Cruces, she will be reunited with former Storm standout Kelly Runestrand, who is now a sophomore with the Aggies.

"Jessica is an extremely talented swimmer who has unlimited potential," New Mexico State swimming and diving head coach Rick Pratt said in a release on the school's Web site. "Jessica has beautiful strokes and a great feel for the water. With an increase in training and strength, I think Jessica has the ability to do great things at NMSU. She also can swim a variety of events, which will make her ability to help in a line-up interesting."

Though Vlasic swam many different events for Squalicum during her high school career and with the Bellingham Bay Swim Team, she had her greatest success in the freestyle distance events as a senior.

She won the Class 2A individual championship in the 500 freestyle by nearly 10 seconds, turning in a time of 5 minutes, 11.33 seconds. She also finished second in the 200 freestyle by less than two seconds with her swim of 1:55.82.

Vlasic, who was The Bellingham Herald's All-Whatcom County Girls' Swimmer of the Year the past two seasons, also helped the Storm to a third-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay and a fourth-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay at the state meet. Squalicum finished second in the team standings at the state meet.