Merrill Moses

Merrill M. Moses[1] (born August 13, 1977) is an American Olympic silver medalist, three-time Olympian, and Pan American Games gold medalist water polo player.[2]

Merrill Moses
Personal information
BornAugust 13, 1977 (1977-08-13) (age 42)
Harbor City, California, U.S.
Medal record
Men's water polo
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
2008 Beijing Team
FINA World League
2016 HuizhouTeam
Pan American Games
2011 Guadalajara Team

Early and personal life

Moses was born in Harbor City, California to Max and Marlene Moses, and is Jewish.[3][4][5][6] He lived in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and attended Peninsula High School ('95).[2][4] He and his wife Laura have two children, Adrianna Nicole and Makenna Merrill, and live in Newbury Park, California.[2][4]

Water polo career

While he was in high school, Moses was the Bay League MVP and an All-California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section selection as a senior, and competed with the US Junior National Team.[7]

Moses attended Pepperdine University (09) and played goalkeeper in water polo for four seasons for the Pepperdine Waves from 1995-98.[2] He was All-American honorable mention in 1996, first team in 1997, and second team in 1998.[2] He was also All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation all four years, and 1997 MPSF Goalkeeper of the Year.[2][7] He helped lead Pepperdine to the 1997 NCAA championship.[2] He graduated from Pepperdine in 1999 with a degree in public relations.[2] Moses was inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.[2]

He was the starting goalkeeper for Team USA at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics.[2] He was a goalkeeper on the United States men's national water polo team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[8][9] In the championship game, the USA team won the silver medal, defeated by Hungary. He was named to the Olympic all-star team.[10] Moses also won gold medals with Team USA at the 2007, 2011, and 2015 Pan American Games.[2]

In December 2010, Moses' Olympic silver medal was stolen by thieves when his parents' house was burglarized. The thieves also stole both a ring and a watch that he had been given by the US Olympic Committee.[9][10][11]

He is now Associate Head Coach in water polo at Pepperdine.[2]

See also

References
  1. State of California. California Birth Index, 1905–1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. Searchable at http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461
  2. "PEPPERDINEWAVES.com Merrill Moses Bio: Pepperdine University Official Athletic Site: Men's Water Polo". Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  3. Gabe Friedman (July 31, 2016). "2016 Olympics: 7 Jewish American Olympians to watch in Rio". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  4. Merrill Moses
  5. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Merrill Moses". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  6. "Highlights of Israeli and Jewish American athletes from Rio 2016" | Olympics | Cleveland Jewish News
  7. PEPPERDINEWAVES.com 2013 Hall of Fame Inductee: Merrill Moses: Pepperdine University Official Athletic Site: Men's Water Polo
  8. "USA Water Polo Men's National Team". Usawaterpolo.org. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  9. "Burglars steal water polo player's Olympic silver medal in Manteca". San Jose Mercury News. AP. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  10. Burkin, Christian (January 11, 2011). "Olympic medal theft stings family". Recordnet.com. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  11. Wong, Lonnie (January 11, 2011). "Olympic Medal Stolen In Manteca; Silver medal belonging to water polo player taken – KTXL". Fox40.com. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
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