Merkel, a 6-foot-1 junior, transferred to Urbana from Good Counsel High School this year and though he's been a starter all season, he has really stepped up his game the last few weeks as he's become more familiar with the Urbana system.

Swimming the final leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay, the meet's final event, she caught up after trailing by nearly half a pool length and allowed her relay team to win the event.