Dec. 4, 2008

BOWLING GREEN (BGSUFalcons.com) - Bowling Green State University tennis coach Penny Dean has announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Maddy Eccleston, Katelyn Grubb and Jade Johnson will join the program for the 2009-10 academic year.

"I am very excited to have Maddy, Katelyn and Jade join the BGSU tennis family," said Dean. "All three are superior athletes as well as students, and they can hardly wait to play for the Falcons next year."

Maddy Eccleston (left) celebrates a doubles win in the 2008 Ohio State Championships (David Smith/Special to the Blade)

Eccleston, a native of Toledo, is currently a senior at St. Ursula Academy. She recently earned 2008 All-State First-Team honors, after being named to the second team in both 2006 and '07. A four-time all-league performer, she was the CL Player of the Year as both a junior and a senior

In 2008, Eccleston helped SUA win the outright City League championship for the first time since 2002. She won the league championship at the number-one singles flight, improving her record to 20-2 through regular-season play, and, along with teammate Morgan Bechtel, finished third in the state in doubles. Her high-school coach was Mary Kay Minder.

Grubb, who hails from Elkhart, Ind., currently attends Elkhart Memorial H.S. Entering her senior season (spring of 2009), Grubb has an overall career record of 66-6 at the number-one singles flight, and is currently undefeated in the Northern Lakes Conference.

She was a 2008 All-Indiana Second-Team selection after earning honorable mention the previous year. Over her first three seasons, Grubb has been the No. 1 singles NLC and sectional champion. Her high-school coach is Mitch Kajzer.

Johnson, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., currently attends Homestead H.S. She was named to the All-Indiana First-Team in the spring of 2008 after advancing to the quarterfinal round of the state singles tournament. She finished with a record of 23-1 in her first year at the number-one singles flight.

Katelyn Grubb

Through three seasons, Johnson has a career record of 73-7. She is a two-time all-state first-team performer after earning honorable mention as a freshman. Her high-school coach is Jim Shull.

The 2008-09 Falcon tennis team begins dual-match play on Jan. 16, 2009, at Duquesne. There are three seniors, Libby Harrison, Kelsey Jakupcin and Stefanie Menoff, on the seven-woman squad in 2008-09.