STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford's men's water polo program is set to add four standout freshmen for the incoming 2022 season, announced Thursday by the Dunlevie Family Director of Men's Water Polo Brian Flacks.
Joining the Cardinal are driver Guido Leonardi (Bologna, Italy), driver Chase McFarland (Berkeley, Calif.), two-meter defender Jack Merrill (Old Greenwich, Conn.) and goalkeeper Griffen Price (San Carlos, Calif.).
The group joins a program that boasts 11 NCAA titles and 34 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, along with eight MPSF crowns.
"I couldn't be more excited about our incoming freshman class," said Flacks. "This group is incredibly talented, and will have an immediate impact on our program, as each of them will fill very different, but much-needed roles on our team. This group is also quite special for me since this will be my first class as the head coach at Stanford. I can't wait for them to get here in the fall and start working with them."
Guido Leonardi • Bologna, Italy • International School of Bologna • Driver
- 2022 graduate of International School of Bologna in Bologna, Italy
- Trained and competed at the club level with Rari Nantes Bologna (2014-20) and Bologna De Akker (2020-22)
- Most recently competed in the A2 Italian Senior Championship with Bologa De Akker
- Youngest player on the team where the average age is 25
- Finished second in the A2 Senior League (2021)
- Finished third nationally with the Rari Nantes Bologna Serie C (2020)
- Two-time regional runner-up at U15 and u13 levels (2016, 2018)
- Leading scorer at Rari Nantes Bologna U13, U15 and U17 levels (2015-18)
- Most recently competed in the A2 Italian Senior Championship with Bologa De Akker
- Traveled to America for several college camps in 2019
- Also an avid alpine skier and golfer
- Son of Carlotta and Nicola Leonardi, with older sister, Anna
- Sister, Anna was a coxswain at Boston University for women's lightweight rowing team
- Hobbies include playing the piano
Flacks on Leonardi »Guido currently plays in one of the top water polo leagues in the world. He has been one of the top scorers each of the past five seasons and I expect that he will be able to give our program a significant boost on the offensive end – he can create both off of movement and with the ball in his hand.
Chase McFarland • Berkeley, Calif. • Berkeley • Driver
- 2022 graduate of Berkeley High School in Berkeley, Calif.
- Played and started all four seasons for the Yellowjackets, serving as a two-year captain
- Scored the most goals in the nation as a senior (2021)
- West Alameda County Conference champion (2019)
- League MVP (2021)
- Three-time first-team all-league (2019-21)
- Second in CIF-North Coast Section in total goals and third in points as a sophomore (2019)
- First in California among all sophomores in total points and assists
- Trained and competed with CC United Polo Club since 2012
- U19 Junior Olympics champion (2021)
- U19 Futures League champion (2021)
- Two-time Junior Olympics All-American first team (2012, 2021)
- Has competed at several levels with the USA National Youth program
- Two-time Pacific Zone cadet team starter (2019-20)
- Chosen for Futures Barcelona (2019)
- Member of USA Development National Team (2018)
- Son of Lauren and Sean McFarland, with older brother, Dash
- Brother, Dash, plays water polo at UC Santa Barbara
- Hobbies include playing guitar
Flacks on McFarland »Chase is one of the best right-handed attackers in the country. He helped lead his team to the Junior Olympic Championship last summer and was a four-time all-American in high school. Chase is a high-level shooter and can play on either side of the pool.
Jack Merrill • Old Greenwich, Conn. • Rye Country Day School • 2M-Defender
- 2022 graduate of Rye Country Day School in Rye, N.Y.
- Trained and competed at the club level with Chelsea Piers (2014-20) and CT Premier (2020-present)
- Junior Olympics Session III champion (2021)
- Junior Olympics Session III MVP (2021)
- Futures Water Polo best defender (2021)
- Recently played with Ferencvárosi Torna Club U19 team in Budapest (2022)
- Also competed with NYAC Master's Team (2021)
- Senior National Champion (2021)
- Has trained and competed with Water Polo Canada's Junior National Team
- Finished fourth at Youth UANA Pan-American Championships (2019)
- Invited to USA Water Polo Futures program (2019)
- Selected to multiple Northeast Zone ODP teams
- Son of Vera and Allan Merrill, with a younger sister, Sydney
- Father, Allan, played golf at Simon Fraser University in Canada
- Dual citizen of both United States and Canada
- Anticipates majoring in mathematical and computational sciences or economics
- Hobbies include amateur DJing and playing ping pong
Flacks on Merrill »Jack is a special athlete. He has a large frame that allows him to be a lockdown defender, and he also Is dynamic and agile which lets him be an elite scorer on the offensive end. With the graduation of All-American AJ Rossman at the center defender position, we will be leaning on Jack to come in and play a big role immediately.
Griffen Price • San Carlos, Calif. • Sacred Heart Preparatory • Goalkeeper
- 2022 graduate of Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton, Calif.
- Played and started all four seasons with the Gators
- Northern California champion (2021)
- Three-time West Catholic Athletic League regular season and tournament champion (2018-19, 2021)
- Three-time Central Coast Section champion (2018-19, 2021)
- Two-time North-South champion (2018, 2021)
- Elite 12 champion (2021)
- Voted top goalkeeper in country (2021)
- CIF first team (2021)
- Central Coast Section MVP (2021)
- Cal-Hi Sports Central Coast Section Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2021)
- Two-time All-Central Coast Section first team (2018, 2021)
- Two-time All-West Catholic Athletic League first team (2018, 2021)
- San Mateo Daily Journal Player of the Year (2021)
- Trained and competed with Stanford Water Polo Club and Atherton Aquatics
- Four-time USA Water Polo All-American (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021)
- U18 Junior Olympic champion (2019)
- Futures Water Polo top goalkeeper (2017)
- Has competed at several levels with the USA National Youth program
- Trained with youth national team (2019-20)
- Played with USA Men's National League (2018-20)
- Member of USA Men's Cadet National Team (2018)
- Won bronze at Darko Cukic Memorial Tournament in Serbia
- Member of USA Development National Team (2017)
- Son of Jeanette and Geoff Price, with younger sister GiGi
- Father, Geoff, played tennis at Kalamazoo
- Uncle, Richard Schroeder, swam at UC Santa Barbara and won two Olympic gold medals in 1984 and 1988 as a breaststroker in the medley relay
- Aunt, Dawn Schroeder, swam at UCLA and UC Santa Barbara, qualified for 1988 Olympic Trials
- Cousin, Grant Schroeder, played water polo at California
- Cousin, Erica Schroeder, ran track at Washington
- Anticipates majoring in management science and engineering or philosophy
- Hobbies include camping, scuba diving and hiking
Flacks on Price »Griff has been considered one of the top goalies in the country for the past four years. He has helped lead his high school team to four NCS championships and was a member of the USA National Team. Not only does Griff have incredible control in the goal, but he is one of the best passers I've ever seen. With him in the net, I am confident our program will have a strong defensive backbone for the next four seasons.