New Mexico State University Athletics

2011-12 (Sophomore): As a sophomore, Mertel posted lifetime-best times in three events. In the backstroke events, she set new career-best times in the 100 back (58.24) and 200 individual medley (2:11.28) at the UNLV Winter Invitational (Dec. 17-19). Mertel finished eighth in the 100 back, seventh in the 200 back, with a season-best time (2:06.70), and 13th in the 200 IM at the three-day meet. Mertel also helped the Aggies at the 2012 WAC Championships with three top 25 performances. She posted a 15th-place finish in the 400 IM, along with a lifetime-best time (4:41.59), 18th-place finish in the 200 back and 22nd-place finish in the 100 back. Mertel also was a member of the Aggie relays including the 400-free, 200-medley and 400-medley relays. Out of the water, Mertel earned Academic All-WAC team honors.

2010-11 (Freshman): In her freshman campaign, Mertel was a backstroke, butterfly and IM specialist. She recorded then lifetime-best marks in the 100 back (1:01.58) and 200 back (2:10.76) at the UNLV Invitational (Dec. 11-13). Mertel finished in 11th place in the 400 IM with a season-best time (4:51.22). She also set then personal-best marks in the 200 IM (2:17.99) and 200 fly (2:21.86) at the invitational to help the Aggies claim a second-place team finish.

High School: Mertel joined the Aggies from Coronado High School in Henderson, Nev. She owns the school records in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke and set the Sunrise Regional record in the 100 back in 2009. Mertel won the regional crown in both the 200 IM and 100 back, and she led the Cougars to a pair of regional championships and third-place finish at state in 2008 and 2009. Mertel was named the regional swimmer of the year and finished second at the state meet in the 200 IM and 100 back.

Personal: She is the daughter of Robert and Jacqueline Mertel and was born in Panarama City, Calif. Mertel is majoring in journalism.