NEW COMMIT: After the University of Iowa cut their program, former Hawkeye commit Brecken Merkel of Crystal, Minn. has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Missouri as a member of the Tigers’ Class of 2025.
She will join Ashley Gill, Abbey Taute, Colleen Duffy and Taylor Williams on campus in Columbia at the start of the 2021-22 season.
She told Swimming World:
“I am extremely happy to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at the University of Missouri. A huge thank you to everyone that has helped me through these uncertain times! Go Tigers!”
Currently competing for Aquajets Swim Team, Merkel owns three Junior National standards and is a talented sprint freestyler, butterflyer, and IMer. She raced four events at Juniors West in December and placed third in the 200 fly at the Vince Herring Classic in February.
Last summer, she finished seventh in the 200m fly at NCSAs after placing fourth in that event at Minneapolis Sectionals. In 2018, she recorded three best times at Juniors West before going on to final in a pair of events at NCSAs.
Her best times include:
- 50 free – 23.95
- 100 free – 51.54
- 100 fly – 55.66
- 200 fly – 2:00.97
- 200 IM – 2:03.58
- 400 IM – 4:24.96
Also competing for Edina High School, Merkel is a six-time Minnesota 2A State Championship finalist. The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American finished third in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 fly as a junior. She placed fourth in both the 100 fly and 200 IM as a sophomore while taking ninth and eighth, respectively, in those events during her freshman season.
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