Merecka Tabbed as Honorable Mention Scholar-Athlete All-American

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas swimmer Allison Merecka found a way to contribute points to the Jayhawks’ best Big 12 finish in school history during an eventful freshman campaign and squeezed another honor into her debut season Monday, as she was named Honorable Mention Scholar-Athlete All-American by the the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). During the 2013-14 season, Merecka anchored the 800-yard freestyle relay that swam a time of 7:11.99 at the 2014 Big 12 Championships, breaking a five year-old school record of 7:13.86. The team of Morgan Sharp, Haley Molden, Chelsie Miller and Merecka finished second in Austin, Texas, to add 34 points toward the KU team total, and posted the 35th-fastest time in the country last season.

The Honorable Mention Scholar-Athlete All-America award was presented to college and university swimmers and divers who achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester or cumulative average, and achieved a “B” time standard, but did not qualify to compete in their respective national championship.

Merecka, a community health major from Cypress, Texas, was also one of 10 Jayhawk swimming and diving student-athletes to be named to the 2013-14 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team announced by the league office in June.

One of several notable returners for the 2014-15 swimming and diving team, Merecka and the Jayhawks open the 2014-15 season on the road against Nebraska-Omaha (Oct. 13). KU’s first of seven home meets in Robinson Natatorium is a double-dual against Denver and Missouri State, Oct. 24-25.

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