Rick Merlo
POSITION: 2-Meter Defense
HEIGHT: 6’3”
WEIGHT: 220 lbs.
EDUCATION: UC Irvine 2005
CLUB: New York Athletic Club
BIRTHDAY: 08/05/1982
BIRTHPLACE: Fresno , CA.
HOMETOWN: Fresno , CA.
INTERNATIONAL/CLUB: Member of 2007 FINA World Championship team, scoring two goals… Took part in 2006 World League… Played in 2005 and 2006 World League… Member of 2005 World Championship team… Participant in 2003 World University Games.
PROFESSIONAL: Played in Italy 2005-2006… Played for Genova Italy Nervi 2006-2007… Played in Brazil in 2007.
COLLEGE: First-Team All-American, First-Team All-MPSF, and Scholar Athlete in 2005… ThirdTeam All-American and Second-Team All-MPSF in 2004.
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
PERSONAL: Older brother, Mark, was a former Academic All-American water polo player at UC Irvine… Younger brother Curt, also plays water polo at UC Irvine… Says his worst water polo moment was when the ball hit his head, went into his team’s goal and they lost by one… Became involved in water polo through his older brother.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS:
2007 World Championships, Melbourne, Australia 9 th place
2006 World League Super Final, Athens, Greece 5 th place
2005 World Championships, Montreal, Canada 6 th place
2003 World University Games, Daegu, South Korea, 8 th place
Fun Facts:
Favorite Food: Italian Food (from Italy)
Favorite Movie: Goal! and Goal II: Living the Dream
Favorite Actor: Brad Pitt
Favorite Songs: All Daft Punk songs
Favorite Musical Artists: AFI, Daft Punk, DJ Shadow, and Jack Johnson
Favorite Color: Blue
Best Halloween Costume: Ricky Bobby
Magical Power: To fly
Favorite Quote: “There is no off switch.”
Etcetera: Enjoys volleyball and soccer outside of water polo… best thing about water polo is the team… got involved with the sport through his brother and playing with the team keeps him involved in the sport
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