Puyallup’s Mergel takes fifth at state to close out prep career

Puyallup High senior Mackenzie Mergel wrapped up her wildly successful high school career in style, taking fifth in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 55.47 seconds at the Class 4A state swim meet over the weekend at the King County Aquatic Center.

“I think it went alright,” Mergel said. “Coming back the next day (after preliminaries) is always a bit rough. It wasn’t my best time but I’m still happy with it. I came out and gave it my all, and that’s OK with me. I was seeded sixth coming into finals and I came out fifth, so that’s fine with me.”

Mergel is no stranger to swimming in big meets, but the luster hasn’t yet worn off.

“I always look forward to swimming at finals in state,” Mergel said. “I get this adrenaline high from it and it’s so fun. Just being with my team, having them cheer for me and all my parents and family in the stands, it’s a sea of purple out there. I just love walking out to the walkout music — that always gets me pumped up. I was in the moment and in the zone.”

Saturday’s state meet marked the end of a prolific high school career for Mergel.

“It’s been a wild ride,” she said. “I never thought, when I came in as a freshman, that I’d have my name on the high school (record) board five times. My goal was just to beat the breaststroke record and then I came out breaking five (school) records. It never crossed my mind to have all those. That was a big accomplishment. I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to do.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 11:37 AM with the headline "Puyallup’s Mergel takes fifth at state to close out prep career."