Pepperdine University Athletics

PEPPERDINE 2024-25: Competed in 13 meets as a freshman … MPSF Champion in the 100 fly and the 200 medley relay … A National Invitational Qualifier … Tied for the 100 fly school record (54.70) and helped set the 200 medley relay school record (1:41.84) … In program history, swam the seventh fastest time in the 100 IM … Made the All-MPSF first team in the 100 fly and 200 medley relay.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Allen High School, located in Allen, Texas, in 2024 … Lettered three years of high school … As a senior, earned All-State honorable mention in the 100 back, All-State second team honors in the 100 fly and All-State first team honors in the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay … Earned three All-State first team and one All-State second team honors as a junior … Collected one All-State honorable mention and two All-State second team honors as a sophomore … Holds the 200 medley relay record (butterfly leg) and the 200 free relay record at her high school … Also was the Varsity Swimmer of the Year her last three years of high school.
 
CLUB: Competed for Lifetime Fitness and Texas Ford Aquatics … Earned the Coaches Choice Award in 2023 … A Texas Age Group Swimming Qualifier five years in a row (2016-2020) … Sectional qualifier four times (2021-2024) … Three-time futures qualifier (2022-2024) … Earned a third-place team finish at sectionals in 2023.
 
PERSONAL: Majoring in business … Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., … Daughter of Tracy Merzi and Alan Ware … Has one sibling: Haley … Wants to go to law school post grad … Loves swimming because of the feeling of family that a team has … Chose to attend Pepperdine because “I enjoyed  the team when I visited and I thought the culture was good and that I would fit in well. I also enjoyed the campus and the academics are advanced and challenging.”
 
FAVORITES: Enjoys reading, building legos, spending time with friends, shopping, traveling, sand volleyball and pickleball … Favorites include Katie Ledecky (pro athlete), Dallas Mavericks (pro team), If He Had Been With Me or The Invisible Life of Addie Larue (book), Maze Runner (movie), Vampire Diaries or The Summer I Turned Pretty (TV show), Taylor Swift, Chase Atlantic and Tate McRae (musical artists), cheeseburger and fries (food) and volleyball (sport besides swim).