GREEN BAY, Wis. - Green Bay head coach Jim Merner has announced the addition of five more student-athletes to the Phoenix swimming and diving programs for the 2010-11 season. The women's team inked three spring signees, as Erin Cox (Berlin, Wis.), Merissa Gatti (Lakeville, Minn.) and Kelsey Johnson (Brookfield, Wis.) each signed National Letters of Intent, while Connor Andrew (Centennial, Colo.) and Cole Hackney (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) signed on to compete for the Green Bay men.

Cox comes to Green Bay as a breaststroke specialist following her senior year at Berlin High School where she was a multi-event state qualifier. The two-time Berlin swimmer of the year holds school records in the 100 breast, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and the 400 free relay. Cox swam for the Berlin Barracudas club team.

"Erin is a great all around athlete in several sports," Merner said. "Now that she can fully dedicate herself to being a swimmer with us next year, I think we're going to see someone who can score very high at our league championships."

A team captain and team MVP, Gatti placed fourth at the Minnesota State Diving Championship in 2009 for Lakeville North High School. She earned all-state honors and was named her section's diver of the year after winning the section 2AA championship in 2009. Gatti has also shown strength in the classroom, earning Academic All-America honors for the 2009-10 season. She plans to major in human biology at UW-Green Bay.

Johnson is coming off a four-year varsity career at Brookfield Central High School where she was a backstroke and freestyle standout. In 2009, she earned second team all-conference honors and qualified for the finals at the state championship meet in the 100 and 200 backstroke events. She helped her team to a conference championship in 2008 and was a member of school record performances in the 400 freestyle and 200 medley relays. Johnson was also a member of the Elmbrook Swim Club and intends on majoring in education at UW-Green Bay.

"I am very happy that Kelsey has chosen to be with us next year," Merner said. "Her success in the state club championships in college distance events is exciting and I look forward to being a part of her success next year."

Andrew joins the Phoenix after finishing up his high school career at Cherry Creek High School where he was named an all-American in the 200 and 500 freestyle events. He was a Junior National qualifier in the 200 free and was a member of his school's state championship 200 and 400 free relay teams. Andrew also competed for the Colorado Athletic Club Stingrays.

"Connor is going to bring us a great deal of versatility with his swimming," Merner said. "He is an outstanding distance freestyle, individual medley and backstroke swimmer. He is going to fit in perfectly with our needs in those events and will contribute greatly to our success next year."

Hackney also comes to Green Bay from the state of Colorado, where he attended Highlands Ranch High School.

"Cole is a great sprint freestyler and butterflyer who has shown tremendous improvement over the past year," Merner said. "He has a great chance to come in as a freshman and be a scorer at the Horizon League Championships."

The five spring signees join the seven additions from the fall - Brian Heiser (McFarland, Wis.), Robert Miner (Madison, Wis.), Robert Wolf (Wind Lake, Wis.), Steven Bothun (Kimberly, Wis.), Carrie Dinelli (Northbrook, Ill.), Parker Wolf (Kohler, Wis.) and Kendra Rottier (Green Bay, Wis.).

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