Felix Mercado Named Assistant Coach for USA Water Polo Men's Junior National Team
6/5/2025 3:01:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown Director of Water Polo has been selected as an assistant coach for the USA Water Polo Men's Junior National Team, USA Water Polo announced on Thursday (June 5).
Mercado is one of three assistant coaches on the staff that will travel to Zagreb, Croatia to take part in the World Aquatics Men's Junior World Championships (U20). The tournament will begin on June 14 with Team USA taking part in Group A that features Croatia, Hungary and Montenegro.
"I'm honored and excited to be part of this great coaching staff with these amazing athletes," said Mercado. "Getting an opportunity to represent our country is always a privilege I enjoy."
Men's Junior National Team (Hometown/School/Club)
1. Charles Mills (Tiburon, CA/USC/San Francisco Water Polo)
2. Baxter Chelsom (Los Angeles, CA/UC Davis/Los Angeles Premier)
3. Peter Castillo (Costa Mesa, CA/UCLA/Newport Beach WPC)
4. William Schneider (San Clemente, CA/Stanford/Mission WPC)
5. Jonathan Carcarey (Santa Maria, CA/Pepperdine/SOCAL)
6. Gavin Appeldorn (Newport Beach, CA/Princeton/Newport Beach WPC)
7. Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/Mission WPC)
8. Ryan Ohl (Greenwich, CT/Stanford/Greenwich Aquatics)
9. Landon Akerstrom (Costa Mesa, CA/UC San Diego/SOCAL)
10. Connor Ohl (Newport Beach, CA/Newport Harbor HS/Newport Beach WPC)
11. Benjamin Liechty (Newport Beach, CA/UCLA/Newport Beach WPC)
12. Bode Brinkema (San Juan Capistrano, CA/UCLA/Mission WPC)
13. Kiefer Black (San Diego, CA/Naval Academy/La Jolla United)
14. Max Zelikov (Boca Raton, FL/Stanford/South Florida WPC)
15. Corbin Stanley (Yorba Linda, CA/Long Beach State/SOCAL)
Staff
Jack Kocur - Head Coach
Felix Mercado - Assistant Coach
Alex Rodriguez - Assistant Coach
Derek Clappis - Assistant Coach
2025 World Aquatics Men's Junior World Championships Schedule (subject to change)
June 14 - USA at Croatia 1:00pm et/10:00am pt
June 15 - USA vs Hungary 11:30am et/8:30am pt
June 16 - USA vs Montenegro 11:30am et/8:30am pt
June 17 - TBD
June 18 - TBD
June 19 - TBD
June 20 - TBD
June 21 - TBD
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Mercado is one of three assistant coaches on the staff that will travel to Zagreb, Croatia to take part in the World Aquatics Men's Junior World Championships (U20). The tournament will begin on June 14 with Team USA taking part in Group A that features Croatia, Hungary and Montenegro.
"I'm honored and excited to be part of this great coaching staff with these amazing athletes," said Mercado. "Getting an opportunity to represent our country is always a privilege I enjoy."
Men's Junior National Team (Hometown/School/Club)
1. Charles Mills (Tiburon, CA/USC/San Francisco Water Polo)
2. Baxter Chelsom (Los Angeles, CA/UC Davis/Los Angeles Premier)
3. Peter Castillo (Costa Mesa, CA/UCLA/Newport Beach WPC)
4. William Schneider (San Clemente, CA/Stanford/Mission WPC)
5. Jonathan Carcarey (Santa Maria, CA/Pepperdine/SOCAL)
6. Gavin Appeldorn (Newport Beach, CA/Princeton/Newport Beach WPC)
7. Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/Mission WPC)
8. Ryan Ohl (Greenwich, CT/Stanford/Greenwich Aquatics)
9. Landon Akerstrom (Costa Mesa, CA/UC San Diego/SOCAL)
10. Connor Ohl (Newport Beach, CA/Newport Harbor HS/Newport Beach WPC)
11. Benjamin Liechty (Newport Beach, CA/UCLA/Newport Beach WPC)
12. Bode Brinkema (San Juan Capistrano, CA/UCLA/Mission WPC)
13. Kiefer Black (San Diego, CA/Naval Academy/La Jolla United)
14. Max Zelikov (Boca Raton, FL/Stanford/South Florida WPC)
15. Corbin Stanley (Yorba Linda, CA/Long Beach State/SOCAL)
Staff
Jack Kocur - Head Coach
Felix Mercado - Assistant Coach
Alex Rodriguez - Assistant Coach
Derek Clappis - Assistant Coach
2025 World Aquatics Men's Junior World Championships Schedule (subject to change)
June 14 - USA at Croatia 1:00pm et/10:00am pt
June 15 - USA vs Hungary 11:30am et/8:30am pt
June 16 - USA vs Montenegro 11:30am et/8:30am pt
June 17 - TBD
June 18 - TBD
June 19 - TBD
June 20 - TBD
June 21 - TBD
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
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