Bruins sign five in 2021-22 recruiting class

The Bellevue University softball program and head coach Michala Cimino announced the 2021-22 signing class today. Cimino will welcome five new Bruins who will all continue their athletic and academic careers beginning in the fall of 2021. 

Pitcher Kathryn Cunningham (Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue East HS), infielder Reese Floro (Plattsmouth, Neb./Bellevue East HS), utility Liana McMurtry (Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue East HS), infielder Alexa Rose (Omaha, Neb./Skutt Catholic HS) and utility Alexa Sidel (Papillion, Neb./Papillion-LaVista South HS), make up this year's signing class. 

Kathryn Cunningham (5-6, P, Bellevue, Neb., Bellevue East HS, Nebraska Gold)

• Earned second-team all-state honors by both the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star.
• First team all-Metro Conference honoree.
• Set Bellevue East's single-season strikeout record with 201.
• Went 18-11 her senior season with 201 strikeouts in 156.1 innings pitched. 
• For her career, compiled 27 wins and 380 total strikeouts.
• Batted .442 with 33 RBIs, six doubles, and six home runs. 
• Named to her school's Honor Roll and was named academic all-conference.
• Member of the National Honor Society. 
• Daughter of James and Kristy Cunningham
• High School Coaches: Casie Onken, Whitney Wilson
• Nebraska Gold Coach: Dan Roberts

Reese Floro (5-5, IF, Plattsmouth, Neb., Bellevue East HS, Nebraska Gold)

• Batted .415 her senior season with 42 RBIs, 15 doubles, and five home runs.
• Earned all-state honorable mention honors in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
• Garnered first-team all-state by the Omaha World-Herald in 2019.  
• Named Bellevue East's Offensive MVP in 2018, 2019, and 2020. 
• Daughter of Steve and Tiffany Floro
• High School Coach: Casie Onken
• Nebraska Gold Coach: Dan Roberts

Liana McMurtry (5-9, UT, Bellevue, Neb., Bellevue East HS, Fury Gold) 

• Named to the all-Metro Conference Coaches Team in 2020.
• Earned 2020 all-state honorable mention honors by the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star.
• A member of the National Honor Society.
• Named to her school's Honor Roll on multiple occasions.
• An academic all-state honoree in 2020.
• Daughter of Lonnie and Kesha McMurtry
• High School Coach: Casie Onken, Whitney Wilson
• Fury Gold Coach: Dylan Bestenlenher

Alexa Rose (5-5, IF, Omaha, Neb., Skutt Catholic HS, Nebraska Gold)

• Earned honorable mention Class B all-state honors.
• Batted .328 her senior season with 11 RBIs, three doubles, two home runs, and seven stolen bases.
• Helped her club team, Nebraska Gold to a third-place finish at Nationals
• Daughter of Kevin and Kim Rose
• High School Coach: Keith Engelkamp
• Nebraska Gold Coach: Dan Roberts 

Alexa Sidel (5-6, UT, Papillion, Neb., Papillion-LaVista South HS, Nebraska Gold/Thunder)

• Four-year letterwinner at Papillion-LaVista South High School.
• Named to the school's Honor Roll 16 quarters. 
• Daughter of Travis and Misty Sidel
• High School Coach: Tom Horton
• Nebraska Gold/Thunder Coach: Brian Kudym 

 The Bruins will open the 2021 season on Feb. 5-7 when they travel to San Antonio, Texas to compete in the Our Lady of the Lake Classic.