Women’s Swimming and Diving Adds Two Newcomers for 2017-18 Season
June 21, 2017 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. –The Ball State women's swimming and diving team is excited to announce the addition of Caitlin Locante and Cailin Merck to next year's squad.
"We are extremely excited for what our two new Cardinals will bring to the pool and classroom over the next four years. They are bright, athletic young women, and we see a lot of potential in both of them," said head coach Kristy Patterson.
Cailin Merck, a breaststroker, is a four year letterwinner from Lincoln-Way East High School. The Mokena, Ill. native holds school records in the 100 breaststroke and 200 medley relay. Merck was named all-conference and all-sectional as a sophomore, junior and senior. She was also named all-state and MVP as a junior. Merck helped her team to two conference championships, three sectional championships along with being a three-time state qualifier.
"Cailin (Merck) will have immediate impact for us in dual meets and at the conference level," add Patterson. "She is a breaststroke specialist who has a tireless work ethic that will mesh well with our team. Cailin has a great stroke that will serve her well as she continues to train and get stronger."
Caitlin Locante will be a great addition to the Ball State diving team. The four year letterwinner from Brookefield, Wis. was named second team all-conference as a sophomore and first time all-conference as a junior and senior. Locante earned first place in the Greater Metro Conference as a junior and senior. She earned first place at sectionals as a sophomore, junior and senior. At the state level, Locante earned a second place finish as a junior and third place as a senior. She currently holds three school records on the board. Locante was named Most Improved as a sophomore, MVP as a junior and senior, all-state as a junior and senior, and captain as a senior.
"Caitlin (Locante) has a tremendous amount of athleticism," said Patterson. "She has numerous high school accolades from being a multi-sport athlete. We can't wait to see what she can do when she puts all of her time into her diving career. We will look to her for impact on the boards, and add to our young talent in the dive squad. Our diving coach, Nick Gayes, did a fine job in finding this gem of a diver with Caitlin."
Merck and Locante will begin their Ball State swimming and academic careers in the fall.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State women's swimming and diving team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateWSwim.
"We are extremely excited for what our two new Cardinals will bring to the pool and classroom over the next four years. They are bright, athletic young women, and we see a lot of potential in both of them," said head coach Kristy Patterson.
Cailin Merck, a breaststroker, is a four year letterwinner from Lincoln-Way East High School. The Mokena, Ill. native holds school records in the 100 breaststroke and 200 medley relay. Merck was named all-conference and all-sectional as a sophomore, junior and senior. She was also named all-state and MVP as a junior. Merck helped her team to two conference championships, three sectional championships along with being a three-time state qualifier.
"Cailin (Merck) will have immediate impact for us in dual meets and at the conference level," add Patterson. "She is a breaststroke specialist who has a tireless work ethic that will mesh well with our team. Cailin has a great stroke that will serve her well as she continues to train and get stronger."
Caitlin Locante will be a great addition to the Ball State diving team. The four year letterwinner from Brookefield, Wis. was named second team all-conference as a sophomore and first time all-conference as a junior and senior. Locante earned first place in the Greater Metro Conference as a junior and senior. She earned first place at sectionals as a sophomore, junior and senior. At the state level, Locante earned a second place finish as a junior and third place as a senior. She currently holds three school records on the board. Locante was named Most Improved as a sophomore, MVP as a junior and senior, all-state as a junior and senior, and captain as a senior.
"Caitlin (Locante) has a tremendous amount of athleticism," said Patterson. "She has numerous high school accolades from being a multi-sport athlete. We can't wait to see what she can do when she puts all of her time into her diving career. We will look to her for impact on the boards, and add to our young talent in the dive squad. Our diving coach, Nick Gayes, did a fine job in finding this gem of a diver with Caitlin."
Merck and Locante will begin their Ball State swimming and academic careers in the fall.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State women's swimming and diving team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateWSwim.
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