Grinnell College recently welcomed Karl Mering to its staff as interim assistant swimming and diving coach/natatorium director.
Mering is filling the role this season of Tim Hammond, who is serving as interim director of the Grinnell Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) due to the sabbatical leave of David Zeiss.
Mering graduated Cum Laude from Whitman College in Washington with degrees in music and English. He enjoyed a stellar swimming career at Whitman, capped by an NCAA Division III national championship in the 100-yard butterfly in 2014. Mering was an eight-time All-American, doing so three times in the 100 and 200 butterfly races and once each in the 100 and 200 freestyles.
He most recently served as lead outdoor program instruction/summer search lead for Sierra Nevada Journeys in Portola, Calif. Prior to that, he had experience working as a High school swim coach for Walla Walla High School, and as a club and summer league coach with the Hidden Springs Swim Club and the Boise City pools. Outside the pool he has worked on numerous musical projects, with diverse stints as a piano and keyboard accompanist for Opera, Musical Theater, Ballet, and jam bands.
