Buffalo State sophomore Conner Merger will attempt to do something that hasn’t been done in 40 years: become a Buffalo State All-American swimmer.

Mergler will compete at the NCAA D-III Swimming and Diving Championships in Greensboro, N.C. from March 16-19.

He qualified to compete in the 50, 100 and 200-meter freestyle events after winning each event at the SUNYAC Championships last month. Mergler broke school records in all events and conference records in the 50 and 100-meter events.

The sophomore was named SUNYAC Male Outstanding Swimmer of the meet for his efforts.

He will enter the NCAA Championship ranked seventh in the 50-meter freestyle with a qualifying time of 20.38 seconds, eighth in 100-meter freestyle with a time of 44.74 and 11th in the 200-meter freestyle with a qualifying time of 1:39.08.

The top eight finishers in each event will be named All-Americans. The last Buffalo state swimmer to earn All-American honors was Michael Grabowski in 1976.

The prelims will start at 10 a.m. each day and the finals will start at 6 p.m.

The 50-meter will take place on Wednesday, March 16 and the 100-meter on March 17. The 200-meter will take place on March 19.

Following the championships, Mergler will take part in a long-course time trial on Sunday, March 20 in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle to try and qualify for the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska taking place from June 26 to July 3.

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