BRISTOL, Tenn. – King University director of athletics
David Hicks announced the resignation of head acrobatics & tumbling coach
Miranda Merkison today. Merkison guided the Tornado for five years, and led King to the first-ever Conference Carolinas regular season title.
In the first year Conference Carolinas sponsored acrobatics & tumbling as a sport, 2021, the Tornado won the regular season crown and set a school record at the time with six wins. King went 4-0 in conference play and 6-1 overall, falling in the Conference Carolinas Acrobatics & Tumbling Championship final. During the 2021 season, King won three Conference Carolinas Event Finals championships. The Tornado also posted two perfect scores of 10.00 during the 2021 campaign.
"I want to thank Miranda for five incredible years of service," said Hicks. "She has established King as a perennial top 10 program, and set the standard high for the next head coach."
The following year, 2022, Merkison led the Tornado to another program record as King won eight meets, going 8-2 a season ago. In Conference Carolinas play, the Tornado went 7-1, finishing second in the regular season standings before falling in the Conference Carolinas Acrobatics & Tumbling Championship semifinals.
King got off to a hot start in 2020, defeating 10th-ranked Limestone University and starting the season 2-0. However, the season was abruptly shutdown due to COVID-19. In 2019, Merkison guided King to three wins, that was the most in program history at the time. The Tornado also topped Alderson Broaddus University for the first time as the Battlers were ranked ninth at the time of the Tornado triumph.
"I want to thank King University Athletics for giving me this incredible opportunity to mentor and coach strong and passionate young women over the last five years," Merkison said. "This program, these athletes, and the surrounding coaching staff have been my family and my entire world these last five years and will always hold a special place in my heart. It is with extreme sadness that I am resigning from my duties as a head coach to pursue a new opportunity that my family and I believe is best. I have always preached to my athletes that when God opens a door and an opportunity is presented, that you should go for it! As I pursue this new opportunity, I know that these athletes are in great hands and will pursue their goals this season and in the future. Thank you again Nado Nation for an amazing five years!"
In her first season, Merkison guided the Tornado to one win, but three individuals earned All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) recognition. Ashley Berlin qualified for the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) Event Finals, finishing second with a program-record score of 9.850.
Over five years, King set program records in 13 different heats, and program high scores in three different events.
In her five years on campus, Merkison helped three individuals earn (NCATA) All-America honors, one earn conference athlete of the year and three earn conference freshmen of the year. The Tornado had 22 individuals earn all-conference accolades, and three garner honorable mention all-conference honors.
"Miranda embodies the King spirit, pushing her student-athletes to strive for excellence on and off the mat," Hicks continued. "She has provided valuable mentoring and growth opportunities for all student-athletes, and the success of many of our young alumni provide clear evidence of her passion for students."
Academically, three individuals were selected NCATA All-America honorees, while 50 individuals were named to the NCATA Academic Honor Roll, 16 named Academic All-Conference Carolinas, 14 named Academic All-ECAC.
