March 9, 2005

CLEVELAND - Sophomore Mike Merker will represent Cleveland State in foil at the NCAA Championships on March 17-18 in Houston, Texas. The Neshanic Station, N.J. native posted a 72-7 record during the regular season to help the Viking foil squad to a 23-4 mark and a No. 10 national ranking. Freshmen Omer Deleeuw (foil) and Jeff Tormey (epee) will serve as alternates at the NCAAs.

Nursing a hip injury at the Midwest Regional on March 6, Merker got off to a slow start before rallying with a 5-3 victory over defending national champion Boaz Ellis of Ohio State and a 3-1 win against Detroit's Brendan Mullane en route to earning first team All-Region honors.

"Mike has really earned this opportunity, especially after coming so close last season," head coach Jim Sager said. "He's a great kid that does anything I ask of him. The best part about this achievement is that he still has two more years at Cleveland State to grow and improve."

Merker led the Vikings to a runner-up finish behind top-ranked Ohio State in the Midwest Conference Championships (Feb. 26-27), garnering All-Midwest accolades with a fifth-place finish individually. He played a large role in the foil team's 5-4 upset of No. 3 Notre Dame on Jan. 29.