Mercedes Traba Season 2021-22
Career Honors
• 2022-23 SEC Academic Honor Roll
Career-Best Times
200 Free: 1:55.36 vs. Tulane, 11.6.21
500 Free: 4:49.49 at SEC Championships, 2.15.23
1,000 Free: 10:04.12 vs. Auburn, 10.7.22
1,650 Free: 17:16.17 at Miami Invitational, 11.20.21
200 Fly: 2:01.90 at SEC Championships, 2.18.22
400 IM: 4:19.81 at SEC Championships, 2.17.22
Commodore Record Watch
• Owns school records in the 500 and 1,000 free
• Ranks second on the Commodores’ all-time performance list—and is the freshman record holder—in the 400 IM as well
• Stands eighth in Vandy history in the 200 fly and is ninth in the 1,650 free
As a Sophomore (2022-23)
• Met the NIC B Standard in the 500 and 1,000 free, the 200 fly and 400 IM
• Recorded the top marks on the squad in the 500 and 1,000 free as well as the 400 IM—ranking among the top 30 in the SEC in the 1,000 free—while ranking second in the 200 fly
• Just missed finals in the 400 IM at the CSCAA National Invitational (March 9-11) after touching the wall in 4:26.60 while also swimming in the 200 fly (2:04.53) at the meet
• Broke the school record in the 500 free, adding a season-best times in the 200 fly (2:02.58) and 400 IM (4:20.11) at the SEC Championships (Feb. 14-18)
• Set new Vanderbilt school record in the 1,000 free in meet against Auburn (Oct. 7), placing second in both that race and the 500 free (4:57.90)
• Won both the 500 free (4:59.72) and 400 IM (4:30.52) at Iowa (Jan. 21)
• Led Vandy after placing first in the 500 free (5:02.83) and second in the 1,000 free (10:13.34) in season-opening meet against LSU and Tulane (Sept. 23)
• Touched the wall in 2:03.59 in the 200 fly and 5:02.17 in the 500 free, placing first in both events, in victory over North Florida and Georgia Southern (Oct. 15)
• Claimed the 300 free (2:54.78) while finishing second in the 300 IM (3:16.20) in tri-meet with Arkansas and Little Rock (Jan. 28)
As a Freshman (2021-22)
• Met the NIC B Standard in the 500 and 1,650 free, 200 fly and 400 IM her first season at the collegiate level
• Had the team’s best time in three events — 500 and 1,000 free and 400 IM — while ranking second on the squad in the 1,650 free and 200 fly as well
• Set a school freshman record in the 400 IM at the SEC Championships (Feb. 15-19), also recording a personal best in the 200 fly at the meet
• Part of team that posted Vandy’s fastest mark in the 800 free relay at the SEC Championships as well
• Finished third in the A Final in the 500 (4:56.81) and 1,650 free as well as the 400 IM at the Miami Invitational (Nov. 18-20), adding a fourth-place finish in the A Final in the 200 fly
• Won 500 (5:05.93) and 1,000 free in victory at Florida Gulf Coast (Oct. 16), adding a top-five result in the 400 IM (4:38.08) as well
• Also claimed 500 free (5:04.61) vs. Arkansas and Drury (Oct. 9) and 1,000 free (10:20.19) vs. Illinois (Oct. 30)
• Added a second-place result in the 500 free (5:03.62) in the Dores’ victory over the Illini
• Recorded best 200 free time of the season in win over Tulane (Nov. 6), adding a third-place finish in the 500 free (5:00.80)
• Was third in the 1,000 and fourth in the 500 (5:05.40) free against Tennessee (Jan. 20)
The Traba File
• Major is undeclared
• Prepped at Sarasota High under head coach Andrew Eckhart
• Two-time Junior National qualifier and finalist
• Four-time state finalist
• Two-time Sarasota High swim team MVP
• 2018 and 2021 High Point Award winner
• Letterwinner in swimming
• Scholastic All-American
• Daughter of Betsy and Fernando Traba
• Has an older sister, Isabel
• Born in Sarasota, Fla.
• Instagram: @mercedes_traba
• Twitter: @MercedesTraba
• Favorite animal is an elephant
• Cannot sleep without socks on
• Has seen all of the Marvel movies at least three times
Why Vanderbilt: “I chose Vanderbilt because I know getting a degree from a world-class university will open doors for me, and my future, that wouldn’t have been open otherwise. The coaches and teammates create such a welcoming environment and I simply couldn’t turn down this incredible opportunity.”