Rick Merlo

Rick Merlo was born in Fresno, California on August 5, 1982. Merlo is an American water polo player and was a member of the United States men's national [water polo team] at the Water [polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]. In the championship game, the USA team won the silver medal, defeated by Hungary.

High school

CIF Champion at Buchanan High School in 1997 and 2000. CIF MVP, First-Team All-American, All-League, and All-CIF in 2000.

College

Merlo attended University of California, Irvine and played water polo under Ted Newland and Marc Hunt. In 2003 Merlo played at the World University Games in Daegu, South Korea and placed 8th.
First-Team All-American, First-Team All-MPSF, and Scholar Athlete in 2005. Third Team All-American and Second-Team All-MPSF in 2004.

Career

In 2005 Merlo played for Genova Italy Nervi and then for Brazil in 2007.
Assistant coach at Fresno Pacific University