Lincoln, Neb. ? The Nebraska women?s gymnastics team added a third gymnast to its 2003 recruiting class on Monday, as the Huskers received a National Letter of Intent from Omaha native Michele Zabawa. Nebraska Head Coach Dan Kendig previously announced the sigining of Natasha Gowda and Kristi Esposito last Friday.

"This group really fills some needs for us," Kendig said. "I?m very happy that we were able to bring in three gymnasts of this caliber. These three clearly make this team better when you look at what we are losing to graduation at the end of the year. We lose people on bars and beam all three of these gymnasts are outstanding on both bars and beam."

Zabawa competed as a Level 10 gymnast for Don Houlton at Nebraska Gold Gymnastics in Omaha. "She is a very explosive gymnast," Houlton said. "She is very powerful and has great ability on all four events. Michele is very impressive on beam. She has very good form and good composure. I really think she will be a strong addition to the Nebraska progam."

She is the first scholarship athlete from Omaha to sign with Nebraska during Kendig?s nine-year tenure with the Huskers.

"Michele is someone who caught our eye during camps last summer," Kendig said. "She has good form on beam and is already doing a big Yurchenko layout full on the vault. Michele is doing big release moves on the bars and is very solid on floor exercise."

Zabawa is a two-time Region IV All-Around champion and also placed 19th at the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2001. She chose the Huskers over Iowa State, Arizona, Michigan and Utah.

"I am very excited about joining the Nebraska gymnastics team," Zabawa said. "It is a dream come true to be able to compete for a top five collegiate school. I am also glad that I will be competing for my home state, and won?t have to be far from home. I decided that I wanted to go to Nebraska because of their excellent coaching, tradition, and the great facilities. When I met all of the girls on the team they made me feel welcome and right at home, which was very important to me. I could not have asked for a better place to be."

NU also received commitments from Elite Level gymnast Gowda of West Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and Esposito a Level 10 gymnast from Slidell, La.

The Huskers have made four straight appearances in the NCAA Super Six Finals. Kendig?s gymnasts have produced 49 All-America awards, including 2000 NCAA All-Around Champion Heather Brink. Nebraska has also won eight conference championships during Kendig?s nine years at the helm of the Husker program.