Nov. 20, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU swimming signed Camille Hopp (Mission Viejo HS) to a National Letter of Intent, it was announced earlier this week by Head Coach Bonnie Adair. Hopp will also compete for the women's water polo team at LMU when she starts classes in the fall of 2009.

An All-American in swimming her freshman, sophomore and junior years of high school, Hopp was a CIF Southern Section finalist in the 100 breaststroke and 50 freestyle. In addition, she earned the third fastest time in Mission Viejo High School history in her 50 freestyle leadoff during the 200 freestyle relay event, helping her team to the second-fastest high school performance in the country.

Also a strong water polo player, the 5'8" driver has been named an All-American, a member of the CIF first team, and the South Coast League Co-MVP. She trains with the successful SET Water Polo Club out of Orange County under former Olympian Brad Schumacher, helping her team to third-place and fifth-place finishes in the Junior Olympic tournament.

"Camille is a national-level swimmer that has one of the strongest shots that we have seen in a long time," women's water polo Head Coach John Loughran said. "Her offense has always been her strong suit, and we will expect her to continue to be offensive-minded as she continues her college career."

Hopp works equally as hard in the classroom, where she garnered USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors in 2007 and 2008 by earning an un-weighted GPA of 3.5 or greater, and achieving a Junior National bonus time standard in at least one individual event.

"Camille is a perfect fit at LMU both athletically and academically," Adair said. "She is very dedicated and has been able to handle a very tough training schedule in order to excel in both swimming and water polo while still maintaining a very high GPA. There are only a handful of high school girls that have been able to achieve All-American status in both sports. LMU is one of the few Division I programs that have had success in training and developing dual swimming and water polo athletes, and we are excited that Camille has decided to pursue both here at LMU. She will have an immediate impact on our swimming program as her current times are under our breaststroke school records. I am certain that she will continue to improve and excel in a competitive collegiate environment, and I am looking forward to coaching such a talented and versatile athlete."

LMU swimming continues the 2008-09 campaign today when it travels to Long Beach, Calif. to partake in the three-day Nike Invitational. The women's water polo team is gearing up for the start of its season on February 7-8 at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational.