ATHENS, Ga. - The Georgia Bulldogs added a pair of top prospects as freestyler Matthew Owen and butterfly specialist Jonathan Schmidt signed national letters of intent to study and compete at the University of Georgia as announced by head coach Jack Bauerle.

A native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Owen will be coming to Georgia from Saguaro High School. He was the 2001 Arizona 4A Swimmer of the Year and holds the state record for the 200-yard freestyle. Owen was the Arizona 4A high school state champion in the 200-yard and 500-yard events in both 2000 and 2001.

Owen's experience reaches far beyond the high school level, as he was named to the 2002 U.S. National Junior Team in the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle and will compete in Rome, Italy in June of 2002. Owen placed 14th in both the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle at the 2001 Summer Nationals and took third in the 1500-meter freestyle in the annual event in 2000. Owen also swims for the Scottsdale Aquatics Club and is coached by Jim Nickell.

"We are excited about having Matthew as part of our program," Bauerle said. "Obviously he is one of the best up-and-coming swimmers in the country. As a member of the 2002 Junior National Team, we feel he is one of the most talented freestylers in the country. We are looking forward to great things from him even before he arrives at Georgia. We are glad he will be a part of our program as he was wanted by many of the top schools. He is certainly one of the top freestyle prospects coming out (of high school) this year."

Schmidt is currently a senior at Topeka High School in Topeka, Kan., and swims for coach Curt "Gunner" Kelley. He was an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200-meter butterfly in 2000 and is a member of the 2002 U.S. National Junior Team. He was ranked second in the 200-yard butterfly and 14th in the 100-yard butterfly in the country in 2000 by the USA Swimming National Age Group in the 15-16 year old division. Schmidt set the Missouri Valley record in both the 100-yard and 100-meter butterfly events. Schmidt also swims for the Lawrence Aquahawks in Lawrence, Kan., and trains under club coach Brian Barnes.

"Jonathan is going to help us tremendously in our fly events where we lose a couple of our seasoned veterans in Jason Gagnon and Brian Scannell," offered Bauerle. "He will come in as a very needed swimmer."

Schmidt is a member of the National Honor Society and has been on the honor roll the last three years. He is a three-year member of Mu Alpha Theta, which is the National High School and Junior College Mathematics Club.

"He is a terrific swimmer, but also he will help us continue our long tradition of excellent students" added Bauerle. "He is a very hard worker both in the classroom and in the pool."