Sarah Merritt, a forward on the Ohio soccer team, died after falling from a fifth-floor balcony at her hotel on Hilton Head Island, S.C., this past week.
A junior from Tipp City, which is about 16 miles north of Dayton, Merritt was climbing from one balcony to another when she slipped and fell just after 4 p.m. Wednesday, Master Sgt. Mike Riley of the Beaufort County (S.C.) Sheriff's Office said.
Authorities found alcohol where Merritt and other members of the soccer team were staying on spring break, but have not determined if she had been drinking before she fell. Toxicology results could take up to 30 days to process, Riley said.
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss was on her way to Hilton Head Island for her own vacation when she heard about Merritt's accident. She then called every one of Merritt's teammates, four of whom were out of the country, to tell them about the loss of the friend they could always turn to.
She was the social engine of the team; she always encouraged the players to get together off the field
Strauss said. She was easy to talk to and was usually one of the first ones to work with younger players.
Merritt played in all of Ohio's 19 games this past season, and Strauss saw her preparing to take on even more of a leadership role.
I think in the last couple months she had become much more focused and was playing her best soccer Strauss said. She was as fit as she'd ever been as determined to be a leader as she ever was.
In 2003, Merritt was named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association, making her the first girl in Tippecanoe High School history to earn that recognition in any sport. Until this past fall, Merritt held the Tippecanoe records for career goals (88) and goals in a season with 28.
But she won't be remembered just for her soccer skills, Scott Bloom, a track and field coach and Merritt's biology teacher at Tippecanoe High School, said. She was a role model.
Sarah was one of the best and brightest kids that we've seen in quite some time
both on the athletic field
in the classroom and on a personal level as a friend
Bloom said.
Her legacy is going to be felt for generations
he continued. There are many small children
especially girls
who watched her play soccer and watched her live her life to the fullest
and they will take a part of Sarah Merritt with them.
Visitation for Merritt is on April 2 from 5-9 p.m. at the Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, where funeral services will be held on April 3 at 10:30 a.m.
Donations in memory of Sarah Merritt can be sent to:
Sarah Merritt Memorial Fund
c/o Dayton Foundation
2300 Kettering Tower
Dayton, OH 45423
OR
Sarah Merritt Fund
c/o Frings and Baylaiff Funeral Home
327 West Main St
Tipp City, OH 45371
