Feature Photo: Roeper Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

Two seniors from the Roeper Upper School have signed letters of intent to play college sports during the upcoming school year.

Rochester's Alexandra Blakenburg has signed with the Venderbilt University swim team while Jack Murray of Beverly Hills has signed to play tennis with the University of North Carolina.

Blankenburg is currently coached by Jeff Cooper and swims with the Oakland Live Y'ers. This year, she made finals at the USA Grand Prix in Indianapolis for both the 400 IM and the 200 fly, a highlight of her career which included swimming against two-time Olympian Katie Hoff.

In 2012, Blankenburg was ranked 16th nationally for her age group in the 200 fly. Blankenbug also qualified for the 2012 Olympic trials in the 200 fly, was named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team in both 2012 and 2011, qualified for the NCSA Junior Nationals multiple times and won the Michigan Swimming State Championship in the 200 fly and the mile.

Murray, meanwhile, is coached by Armand Molino at the Sports Club of West Bloomfield and currently ranked No. 1 in the midwest and No. 26 in the nation by the United State Tennis Association (USTA).

In 2012, Murray became the Midwest Indoor Closed Champion in singles while also being the USTA regional champion in singles and doubles. In 2011, Murray won the Midwest Closed Fall Championships and the USTA National Open in singles.

Murray has also been the recipient of many sportsmanship awards over his career and recently received the 2012 Hoxie Award from the southeast Michigan district of the USTA.

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