s w i m m i n g
f e a t u r e / u p d a t e
Accomplished Duo Seeking More
Seniors leading by example
BY BRANDAN ALFORD
BrandanAlford@
Gmail.com
S
uccess doesn't have an
exact formula. But there
are certain qualities that
consistently beget success:
Having experienced, accomplished leaders.
Seniors Danny Tucker and
Carly Mercer fill that role for
Purdue's swimming and diving programs.
As both programs look to
make the next step, Tucker
and Mercer will be relied upon
heavily as the calendar turns
from 2013 to 2014 and FebruTom Campbell
ary's Big Ten Championships Danny Tucker and Carly Mercer took different paths in arriving at Purdue, but they share
common traits of leadership, hard work and success.
inch closer.
Both Tucker and Mercer are
closer to home, joining the Purdue program before the
coming off junior campaigns that ended in NCAA Cham- 2011-12 season.
pionship appearances. The duo has picked up this winter
"What I've enjoyed so much in the couple years I've
where it left off, capturing 14 individual wins between been here has been just being a part of this team," Merthem in the opening weeks of the winter season. But cer said. "I think that's essential. If you aren't having fun,
even as both have enjoyed similar successes, each took a you aren't going to get as fast as you can. Swimming is a
different path getting to this point.
hard sport and it's important to have fun.
MERCER FEELING AT HOME
"We're a very close-knit team; we're like a family, and
Mercer, now in her third year at Purdue, began her I think that's essential."
collegiate career at Arkansas, spending a year in FayThe change of scenery hasn't affected Mercer's producetteville before deciding she needed a change of scen- tion in the least bit as she made her first NCAA Champiery. The Fishers, Ind., native certainly
didn't struggle in her year competing
in the SEC, breaking the Razorbacks'
school record in the 100 freestyle
twice at the SEC Championships and An updated GoldandBlack.com mobile
posting the team's fastest time in the App For the Android and iPhone at
50 freestyle in the same meet.
But for all her successes in the pool, Google Play and the App Store
Mercer decided she wanted to return
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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 3
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