Placed ninth overall in the men's 1,650-yard freestyle at the Northwest Conference Championships as a freshman with a time of 16:59.11 ... Took 15th in the 500-yard freestyle ... Also competed in the 400-yard freestyle relay in which the Willamette men finished fifth ... Swam all four years at Westlake High School ... Also participated in water polo and cross country ... Two-time Academic Athlete in high school ... Majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Willamette ... Son of Landell and Lynne Merrill.