University of Akron Women's Swimming

Mergel (Finnerty) was an Academic All-Mid-American Conference selection as a senior. A two-time team captain, Mergel won the teams senior award in 2012, along with its most improved award in 2010. She also served as a representative of the swimming and diving team to Akrons Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years. In 2012, she finished ninth in the 200-yard freestyle and 14th in the 100-yard freestyle at the MAC Championships at Ocasek Natatorium. Mergel was also a member of four Akron relay teams at the MAC meet. Mergel (Finnerty) ended her career with two school records as a member of the 200-yard medley and 200-yard free relays. She graduated holding seven spots on Akrons all-time top-5 times list, including places in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay, and 800 free relay. In addition, Mergel served as a swim instructor and coach at the Woodland Swim and Tennis Club in Mansfield, Ohio from 2007-11. Mergel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in child development at Akron and was a member of the Deans List. A native of Mansfield, Mergel was a four-time All-Ohio performer during her prep career in swimming at St. Peters High School. Mergel and her husband, Tim, have one son, Will, and currenlty reside in Seville.  

Medvedeff is in his 19th season guiding The University of Akron divers. The only diving coach in school history, Medvedeff has built one of the most competitive diving programs in the Mid-American Conference. Most recently in 2015-16, Medvedeff coached four Zips who earned a trip to the NCAA Diving Zones, the MAC Freshman Diver of the Year, and had one diver earn a NCAA bid for the first time in his career.  The 2013-14 campaign had continued success for the Akron divers as Medvedeff coached three Zips as they earned trips to the NCAA Diving Zones. The 2012-13 campaign was highlighted by both Carla McNamara and Amy Dorow competing at the NCAA Zone Meet. McNamara also set the program record for three-meter diving with a score of 339.95 at the MAC Championships. In 2011-12, Leeanna Hoover capped off her career with a sixth place finish in the 3-meter springboard at the NCAA Zone Meet, matching the highest finish in UA by MAC Champions Kathleen Christian and Katie Carter. Hoover and Carla McNamara each posted top-10 finishes at the MAC Championships in the 1-meter and 3-meter events.  Medvedeffs charges continued to make their mark on the MAC landscape in 2010-11, with Akron divers taking three of the top five spots in the 3-meter springboard and three of the top seven spots in the 1-meter at the MAC Championships. Leeanna Hoover lead the way with a  third-place showing in the 3-meter. Carla McNamara and Amanda Angeloff also took a pair of top-tens at the MAC meet. McNamara had a standout rookie season, culminating in a pair of top-20 showings at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.  The 2009-10 season saw two Akron divers place in the top ten in both the one-meter and three-meter events at the MAC Championships. Hoover took fourth in the three-meter and ninth in the one-meter, and Amanda Angeloff placed ninth in the three-meter and tenth in the one-meter.  The season prior, Medvedeff was named MAC Diving Coach of the Year for the third time during his tenure at Akron, after mentoring Katie Carter to a sweep of the diving competitions at the 2009 MAC Championships. Carters pair of wins were the second and third conference championships of her career, making her the most decorated diver in UA history.  The 2008-09 season saw Carter set school records in both diving events, scoring 311.65 in the one-meter springboard at the MAC Championships and 339.68 on the three-meter board against Marshall. Additionally, Medvedeff mentored five divers into the top-15 at the MAC Championships. Under Medvedeffs tutelage, Carter became one of the most gifted divers in the Mid-American Conference. As a freshman Carter smashed the school and MAC Championship record in the three-meter springboard to upset a very talented field. Carters win was the fourth conference championship by a MAC diver in the programs short history. During the 2004-05 season, Medvedeff was once again named MAC Diving Coach of the Year after leading the Zips divers to one of the best showings in program history at the conference championship. Lindsey Powers earned MAC Co-Diver of the Year honors and won the three-meter title and Melissa Holbach finished in the top-eight. UA divers totaled 15 event wins during 2004-05, set five individual career bests, two school records, two pool records, and one meet record.  Medvedeff was also named MAC Diving Coach of the Year in 2001 after Kathleen Christian and Susan Over had excellent showings at the MAC Championships. Over won the three-meter springboard at the MAC Meet and was the first MAC Champion in program history. Over also won the 10-meter platform exhibition, while Christian placed third in both the one-meter and three-meter competitions. Medvedeff came to Akron after spending the previous eight years as the head coach of the Akron Rippers swim club - a team he also founded. Still very involved on the junior and senior national scene, Chris remains active as the head coach of the Rippers. The Rippers are a consistent player at the junior national level and have featured a junior world team member, two national champions and numerous national finalists. Medvedeff was the diving coach at Copley High School from 1989-94, where he mentored six state finalists and seven state qulifiers. While in college, he headed the diving program at Akron Firestone High School. Medvedeff has also worked with U.S. divers throughout Europe and has extensive OHSAA experience in Northeast Ohio. Medvedeff graduated from the University of Akron in 1989 with a degree in psychology and a minor in business administration. Medvedeffs Coaching Experience 1998-Present: The University of Akron, Head Diving Coach 1990-Present: Akron Rippers Diving Club, Head Diving Coach and Founder 1989-1994: Copley High School, Head Diving Coach 1985-1989: Firestone High School, Head Diving Coach Medvedeff By the Numbers 6 - Individual MAC Champions 2 - MAC Divers of the Year 1 - Freshman Diver of the Year 4 - MAC Diving Coach of the Year Awards 7 - All-MAC Selections