Post Classifieds
Mergler shoots for SUNYAC title amid historic career
By Bill Schutt
On February 20, 2013
The Buffalo State women's swimming and diving team has never had a swimmer with as
distinguished a career as Kaitlin Mergler has had the last four years.
As a freshman out of Sweet Home High School in Amherst, Mergler burst onto the scene at
Buffalo State and started rewriting the school's swimming record books. No name can be found
more often in the books, as Mergler has etched her name into them 12 times, with seven
individual and five team relay records.
"She is the most decorated swimmer in Buffalo State history and a big part of the team,"
head coach Dan Allen said. "She raised the program here at Buffalo State and is a very special
athlete."
Mergler said that the sprint freestyle races are her personal favorites, and she has excelled at
them during her time as a Bengal. She owns the school record in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500- and
1000- free.
The 50-free record of 23.98 seconds was set on Feb. 9, 2012 during Mergler's junior year, and is
a race that stands out to Allen.
"I watched her swim that race and she dropped a half second off her personal best time," Allen
said. "For somebody to drop that much time is fantastic, and shows Kaitlin's true talent in the
pool."
Through all of her accomplishments, though, Mergler has remained modest. She has been a
loyal teammate, as she leads by example in and out of the pool.
"Kaitlin has motivated me since our freshmen year," co-captain Caitlin Barber said. "She is an
extremely talented girl and her success makes everybody better being around her."
"Kaitlin is very humble and does not talk about herself - she lets her swimming do the talking
for her," Allen added. "She does what's best for the team."
Mergler now prepares for the SUNYAC Championships, which will run Feb. 20-23. Despite such
an impressive career, Mergler is still without an individual conference title. But if recent meets
are any indication, a strong showing at the SUNYACs is very plausible.
The senior was named SUNYAC Swimmer of the Week after a Feb. 2 meet against Geneseo. She
also had the top time in the 100- free (55.49) and placed second in the 50- free (25.27) at the
Geneseo Invitational Feb. 9.
"I swam fast, and I can only get better as the season progresses," Mergler said. "I am hoping for
a top-three finish at the SUNYAC Championship next week."
Mergler's finest memory as a Bengal actually happened at the SUNYAC Championships her
freshman year, when she had a top-three finish in both the 50- and 100- free. She now hopes to
make a finer memory this week.
"I hope to make my biggest memory this year by finishing the season strong and having a shot
at Nationals," Mergler said.
With the work she has put in this season, Allen feels Mergler's goal of making Nationals is
within reach. Swimming on the national stage would be a fitting end to the legacy the interior
design major has made for herself at Buffalo State.
"Kaitlin is ready to swim - she has been prepared since September," Allen said. "She has
trained harder than ever. She has added weights to her work-outs and has become a lot
stronger. She has all the tools and if she puts it all together, she can get a SUNYAC Individual
title this season."
Barber added that Mergler's work ethic is fantastic.
"She pushes herself to the max every practice," Barber said. "She has put in so much time and
effort in the water. I hope she achieves her goal to get to Nationals this season."
As her career winds down, Mergler said she plans to help the team in some capacity when her
eligibility runs out at the end of this season - which she hopes does not happen this week.
Mergler will attempt to win her first individual conference title when the SUNYAC
Championships commence at the Flickinger Center at Erie Community College. Mergler said she
is ready for the opportunity.
"I have prepared myself all season for this moment," she said.
Bill Schutt can be reached by email at schutt.record@live.com or on Twitter @williamschuttjr.
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