Mertz finishes seventh in 3-meter quarters to position herself for finals run.
Purdue Personal Preferences Favorite Coach: Adam Soldati
In Her MP3 Player: Beyonce
Last Concert She Attended: Keith Urban
Favorite Actor & Actress: Ryan Gosling & Sandra Bullock
Favorite Month of the Year: February
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Food: Cereal
Favorite Purdue Building: Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering
Favorite Big City: New York
Unique Travel Locale: Rome
Country She'd Most Like to Visit: Ireland
Another Sport She Enjoys Playing: Volleyball
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Golf
Before Purdue: 2008 Olympian in synchronized 10-meter diving was the youngest member (15 years old) member of the U.S. delegation (across all sports) that year... competed for Elwood High School for the first time as a senior and broke the Indiana state record while winning the state title... also helped lead Elwood to a team state title... won the platform title at 2010 USA Diving Junior National Championships... finished second in the platform at the 2010 FINA World Junior Diving Championships... competed in the 2007, 2009 and 2011 FINA World Championships in synchronized platform, finishing second in 2009... won synchro platform titles at the 2007 USA Diving Spring National Championships and 2011 USA Diving Winter National Championships... has competed in international meets in Australia, China, England, Mexico and Italy.
Personal: Full name is Mary Elizabeth Dunnichay... born in Anderson, Ind.... daughter of ned and Marian Dunnichay... family also includes older siblings Danielle, Caleb and Jacob... Danielle is a Purdue alumnus, Caleb was a diver at Auburn and Notre Dame and Jacob plays baseball at the University of Kansas... has not declared a major.