Soka University

2022-2023 Season
Merrill competed and set season best at the Bruin Invitational in the 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Back, 100 Back, and 100 Fly; in the 50 Free setting a time of 24.54, in the 100 Free with a time of 53.67, in the 50 Back with a time of 29.14, in the 100 Back with a time of 1:03.66, and in the 100 Fly with a time of 1:01.30…also competed at the Slug Shootout 2022 in the 200 Free on Day 1 setting a time of 2:01.48 and in the 200 Back and 50 Fly on Day 2 setting times of 2:22.86 and 27.36…Merrill also competed in the 50 Breast and the 100 IM at the 2022 PCSC Pentathlon setting two more season best with times of 32.49 and 1:04.50…served as member of the Soul Wings Club and the E-sports Club…also studied abroad in Taiwan.

2021-2022 Season
Competed in the 2022 Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Meet setting college best times in the 50 Free, 100 Free, and 100 Back; in the 50 Free, Merrill swam a 24.84; in the 100 Free, he touched in with a time of 53.31; and he finished with a time of 1:00.63 in the 100 Back… Merrill also competed in the 2021 Logger Invite in the 200 Free and 200 Back with times of 2:03.76 and 2:20.89, respectively… at the 2021 Bulldog Pentathlon, Merrill competed in the 100 Fly and 100 IM, setting two more college best swims with times of 1:07.80 and 1:05.37… also competed at the Soka Senior Meet in the 50 Back and 100 Breast, setting college best swims with times 28.80 and 1:10.60, respectively… competed at the ACU vs Soka vs Westcliff meet in the 500 Free with a time of 6:24.73… a member of the Esports Club… also served as a member of the Board Games/Table-Top Club.
 
2020-2021 Season
Did not compete due to Covid.
 
High School
Graduated from Gabrielino High School…competed for four years on varsity swim for the Eagles…recipient of the Student-Athlete Award…also received the Honor Roll Award…served as a member of the Speech and Debate Club for the Blue and Silver. 
 
Personal
Born and raised in San Gabriel, California…parents; Wen-chi Chang and Matthew Merrill… competed for the San Gabriel Sea Gulls… also considered attending Occidental College before committing to Soka University of America… concentrating in Life Sciences and studying Chinese at SUA… when not competing, Merrill enjoys playing badminton, playing card games, and watching movies… Robert also loves dogs.