Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Kansas’ first All-American diver since 1996, Erin Mertz, has left the Kansas swimming and diving program.
The telltale signs of a broken relationship between the diver and the swimming and diving team began shortly after her arrival at Kansas.
Diver Erin Mertz twists in the air at a meet against South Dakota and Northern Iowa Jan. 24.
“When I was a freshman I didn’t really like how the training worked,” Mertz said. “I didn’t feel it was at the level that I needed it to be, personally.”
This mentality continued on into Mertz’s All-American sophomore season, where she struggled to find contentment despite all of her successes. Eventually her frustration with the circumstances proved to be too much to handle, and Mertz informed the coaching staff at the University that she wished to leave the team.
“I was really disappointed in the way the swimming coach treated me after I told him was leaving,” Mertz said. “I felt as if he didn’t respect me.”
Despite these feelings, her wish was granted as the team made no moves to convince Mertz to stay.
“We wanted her to be happy and if moving on and transferring was going to make her happy, that’s what we wanted her to do,” swimming coach Clark Campbell said.
Following her release from Kansas, Mertz moved on to Purdue.
“They have a great team at Purdue and a good balance of work and fun,” Mertz said.
While Mertz may have departed Lawrence, she still holds Kansas in high regard.
“I love the athletic program at KU,” Mertz said.
Junior backstroker Iuliia Kuzhil, said she hoped Mertz would continue her success.
“She’s really focused on what she’s doing,” Kuzhil said. “I wish for her to achieve her goals.”
Despite losing Mertz, Campbell has extremely high hopes for the team.
“Our diving program is definitely going in the right direction,” Campbell said.
He mentioned that numerous divers have the potential to become Kansas’ next All-American. Among the many divers he cited was Meghan Proehl, senior team captain.
“Meg Proehl is going to have a great end to her career at KU,” Campbell said. “She just missed going to nationals last year.”
He also pointed out the promising future of the team as freshman diver Erin Savas begins her Jayhawk diving career.
“I’m very much looking forward to being part of a college team,” Savas said. “I didn’t get that team experience previously.”
— — Edited by Sarah Kelly
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