When Dublin Scioto High School swimming and diving coach Mike de Bear took over the program six years ago, he realized then that seventh-grader Kate McNeilis had a bright future ahead.

De Bear's projections proved true. McNeilis signed a letter of intent to compete at the University of Tennessee on Nov. 11 during a ceremony at the school.

"We knew that she was going to be good," de Bear said. "The thing that's so impressive with Kate that makes her different than a lot of women is her continued development. It's still going. She has worked so hard for what she has accomplished."

McNeilis joins her brother, Kyle McNeilis, as Scioto swimmers who will compete at the collegiate level.

Kyle is in his sophomore year at Texas.

"I've been coaching with this family for six years," de Bear said.

"It's a process. In a school like this, you know everyone so well and to see it rewarded. It's just awesome."

Kate McNeilis received offers from several Division I schools, but she selected Tennessee over Auburn and Texas.

"They have two of the best coaches (coach Matt Kredich and assistant Jennifer Arndt) in the country and they just got a new pool, which is great," McNeilis said.

"The team is really up and coming. When I went there, the team was really welcoming and it felt like I belonged there."

McNeilis has split her time at the club and high school levels. She has been a member of the Westerville Aquatic Club since she was 5.

"The club has helped, because I swim with them mostly all year round,' she said.

"But it's really been fun to be part of a high school team. We have a great coach at Scioto and it's fun to be able to represent the high school that you go to."

A highlight of her career included winning the Division I state championship in the 100-yard backstroke (54.3) last season.

She is a three-time state-meet qualifier, six-time All-American and an Olympic trials qualifier.

Her ultimate goal is to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

McNeilis has a 3.7 grade point average and is considering pursuing a degree in exercise science.