Fresno State Athletics
Five Sign National Letters of Intent for Bulldogs
11/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 30, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Four swimmers and one diver have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Fresno State and compete under head coach Jeanne Fleck and diving coach Taryn Patrick in the 2010-11 season. Alexis Melnikov (Rocklin, Calif.), Brittany Buna (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada), Brooke Fuller (Modesto, Calif.), Michelle Dockendorf (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Hannah Prigge (Lincoln, Calif.) are the newest additions to the Bulldogs swimming and diving team.
Melnikov joins the Bulldogs after competing four years for Rocklin High School, where she was captain of the swim team her junior and senior years. She swims for California Capital Aquatics under coach Debbie Walker. Melnikov holds relay records in the 200 free, and 200 Medley Relays at Rocklin HS and was the Sierra Foothill League Champion in the 500 free. She was first-team All-League Sierra Foothill team both her sophomore and junior years and was honored as the 2007-09 Sierra Nevada Scholar-Athlete.
"This young lady is just going to keep getting better," said Fleck. "She is going to help us on relays and all freestyle events."
Buna comes to the Bulldogs from Claremont Secondary School and swims for Island Swimming under coach Randy Bennett. Buna was a finalist in the 400 IM at the 2009 Canadian Summer Junior Nationals and was selected to represent team British Columbia in 07-08. She also thrives academically as she is involved in Student Council and has been on her schools Honor Roll.
"Brittany is a wonderful fit for our program," said Fleck. "She will add a lot to our IM's and help us increase our depth in the middle distance freestyle events."
Fuller's experience gained at Peter Johansen High School should prove to be beneficial and make her an asset for the Bulldogs. Fuller swims for Pirate Aquatics under coach Corine Meyer-Riley. She was a 2008 High School All-American in the 100 free and 2008 High School All-American consideration in the 200 free. In the same year she was selected to represent Pacific Swimming in the Western Zone Swim Meet. In 2009, she was named High School District Swimmer of the Year and was selected to represent Pacific Swimming in the 2009 North American Challenge Cup.
"Brooke is a great young lady with a great family," said Fleck. "She will come in and be a huge asset in all freestyle events. We are very lucky to have her."
Dockendorf joins the Bulldogs from Dos Pueblos Senior High School and swims for Santa Barbara Swim Club under coach John Dussliere. In 2006 and 2007 she was a USS National Qualifier in the 200 breaststroke and in 07-08 was named MVP for Dos Pueblos HS. Dockendorf participated in the USS Junior Nationals from 2006-2008 and was selected to participate in the 2009 North American Challenge Cup vs. Canada and Mexico.
"Michelle is going to give us great depth in breaststroke, IM, and freestyle events," said Fleck. "She is going to help us in any event that she swims! What a great addition to the Bulldog family."
Prigge will be the lone diver to join the 2010-11 Bulldogs team coming out of Whitney High School. Prigge is part of the Dos Rios Divers club team where she dives for coach Mike Brown. She placed second at the 2009 section championship, was a National qualifier on platform where she placed 12th overall and was named all-league in varsity diving.
"I am very happy to have Hannah be a part of our team," said Patrick. "She will be a strong contender on the platforms as well as both springboard events. I look for her to do great things at the WAC conference and NCAA's."
"We are Your Team" - The Bulldog swimming and diving team returns to the pool Jan., 8th as the `Dogs head to UCLA to compete in dual meets with the UCLA Bruins and the Kansas Jayhawks. Log on to gobulldogs.com for results and to follow exclusive team blog's during the break.
