Felix Mercado Announces Men's Water Polo Class of 2013
May 29, 2009
Providence, RI -
Brown Water Polo Coach Felix Mercado has recently announced the addition of five freshmen who will be joining the Bears’ men’s water polo team this fall. Despite the departure of four talented seniors, the five new members - Ryan Gladych (Orange County, CA), Michael Hartwick (Los Angeles, CA), Cyrus Mojdehi (San Diego, CA), Dean Serure (Coconut Grove, FL) and Svetozar Stefanovic (Belgrade, Serbia) – will add to the squad’s depth and will look to make an immediate impact on a team that finished the 2008 season ranked 17th in the CWPA national poll.
“While losing four of our top scorers will be hard to replace, I am excited to add five quality water polo players that bring size and experience to our squad,” said Mercado about the newest additions to the water polo team.
Gladych, a 6-foot-1 utility player hailing from Deerfield Academy and Mater Dei High School in Orange County, was named a 2008 NEPSA Tournament MVP while leading Deerfield to a New England Championship. While at Mater Dei, Gladych was a 2007 First Team All-Trinity League selection, was named Second Team All-CIFSS and was also an American Water Polo Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-American.
A 6-foot-3 center defender, Hartwick joins the Bears from Harvard Westlake in Los Angeles. A member of the Los Angeles Water Polo Club, Hartwick has been a part of numerous championship teams and was named First Team All-League in 2007 and 2008. Hartwick is also an accomplished swimmer and also played volleyball while at Harvard Westlake.
Mojdehi is a 6-foot-2 attacker from The Bishop’s School and San Diego Shores Water Polo club team. An All-CIS SD Division II selection, Mojdehi also earned 2007 All-Western League honors, was a 2008 San Diego Senior All-Star Division II, and was named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic team from 2006-2008. He also helped lead The Bishop’s School win CIF Division II titles from 2005-2007.
A graduate of Ransom Everglades School, the 6-foot-5 center also played for Raider Water Polo in Florida. He was named All-Dade County three consecutive years, earning First Team in 2007-2008. Serure was also named Junior Olympics Gold Division Most Valuable Player and helped Ransom win the 2008 State Championship.
Last but certainly not least, Stefanovic joins the Bears from the Russian Embassy High School in Belgrade. The 6-foot-3 utility/center was a member of the Serbian National Youth Team that won the 2007 European Youth (Under 18) Championships gold medal and the Balkan games gold medal. His squad also played second at the European Championships.
The Bears finished 18-11 overall last season and went 7-0 in Northern Division play. Brown finished in second at the Northern Division Championship and also competed against Princeton in the Eastern Championship semi-finals.
