Merz Sisters Shine

Caroline Merz of the Los Angeles International Fencing Center competed in the USA Fencing National Championships earlier this month in Charlotte, North Carolina. In a field of over 800 youth and adult fencers across the country, Merz took first place in the Southern California division and 32nd place overall in the Youth 14 Women’s Sabre competition, earning her ranking points in her first year of fencing. Fellow Palisadian fencers included Teddy Levitt, who took first place in the Division II men’s sabre and Mike Groth, who was 73rd in the same division. Noelle Amos placed 57th in the Division II women’s epee and her sister Madeline placed first in the Southern California Youth 12 women’s epee and sixth overall. Two years ago, Merz was second overall at the National Level 9 Rhythmic Gymnastics event in Kentfield, California. Competing in a field of 33 top gymnasts from six national regions, she finished with 76.85 points, behind only Bree McDonough of International Rhythmic Gymnastics in Florida (82.85). Merz placed second in the club routine and third in the ball and ribbon routines. At the 2004 Grand Prix Janet Evans Invitational swim meet in Long Beach last month, Alexa Merz, representing the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, swam the 50 meter freestyle in 26.79 seconds and finished 31st out of 161 competitors. She also swam the 100 meter freestyle event in 58.89 seconds, finishing 52nd out of 185 swimmers. Teammate Cara Davidoff also swam both events, finishing the 50 freestyle in 27.36 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 1:01.33. The meet was held in the USA Olympic Team Trials long course meter pool brought over from Italy, which is similar to the pool that will be used for the Olympics in Athens. Last year, Merz and PALY head coach Adam Blakis were honored at the USA Swimming National Top 16 Awards Banquet at the Disneyland Hotel in Santa Ana. When she was 14, Merz qualified seventh in the nation in the 50 Freestyle with her time in the CIF Finals for Harvard-Westlake.