Whitworth Icon Merkel Resting After Triple-Bypass Surgery

Longtime Whitworth College player, coach, administrator and supporter Paul Merkel is recovering after triple-bypass heart surgery last week.

“His surgery went great, but he can’t seem to recover his strength,” said Irene Merkel, Paul’s wife. “He needs assistance to walk, but he’s still pretty weak.”

After suffering severe dizzy spells last Thursday, Merkel was taken to his physician at 9:30 a.m. Doctors discovered he had a heart murmur. He had surgery at 4 p.m. that day.

Merkel, whose athletic career at Whitworth was interrupted by service in World War II, will be 73 in June. He coached the Pirates to a national baseball championship in 1960 and has also served as athletic director.

He has remained active in Whitworth athletics.

Whitworth sports information director Tom Galbraith resigned after one year to assist an ill relative in St. Louis.

Whitworth basketball players Nate Dunham and Annette Sweeney, along with swimmer Susan Koler and diver Laurilyn Hepler, have been named NAIA AllAmerican Scholar Athletes.

Women’s basketball

Jamie Redd, considered among the top 50 girls high school players in the nation, will sign a letter of intent to play for Washington.

Redd, a 5-foot-9 point guard from San Francisco, said she will sign her letter Sunday.

Golf

Chris Mitchell of Spokane lost 2 and 1 to eventual champion Mike Barnett of Redwood, Wash., in one semifinal of the Kahla Insurance Design Washington PGA Championship in Lacey.

Barnett beat Steve Stull, 4 and 2. The tourney was played at the Meriwood course.