Hall of Fame
Menlo inducts four into Athletic Hall of Fame
Posted September 20
Menlo School is proud to announce four new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame, joining the company of individuals who have added to the school’s tradition of excellence on and off the field.
Cary Kinkead '92 (baseball, football, soccer), Scott Marconda '82 (cross country, track and field), Gina (Merlone) Marek '02 (swimming, water polo) and Roger Pineda '92 (golf) were honored in a ceremony Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Athletic Center Hall of Fame.
The members of the Hall of Fame are recognized for leadership, sportsmanship and superiority in athletic competition, and those who dedicated countless hours to helping others achieve their athletic goals.
Here is information on the 2012 inductees:
CARY KINKEAD '92 – baseball, soccer, football
A Menlo School varsity letter-winner in baseball, soccer and football, Kinkead played NCAA Div. I baseball at Northwestern and Santa Clara. At Menlo, he patrolled center midfield as a four-year varsity soccer player. Kinkead was the Knights’ starting quarterback his senior season and punter and kicker his junior and senior seasons. He was an all-Bay Area first-team selection as a punter his junior year and named team MVP in all three sports his senior year. Kinkead went on to play baseball as a middle infielder at Northwestern for the 1993 and 1994 seasons, then transferred to Santa Clara for the 1995 and 1996 seasons.
SCOTT MARCONDA '82 – cross country, track and field
Once he enrolled in Menlo as a sophomore in 1979, Marconda ran his way to cross country and track school records, many of which still stand. In 1981, he placed fourth in the CCS cross country finals, which were run as a single race including all schools. It was the highest finish for a Menlo runner. That year, he also took 15th at NorCal and holds the school-record time on the Crystal Springs course. In track, he won the 1982 CCS two-mile race and advanced to the state two-mile final, taking 14th place. At Cal, he competed in cross-country and track and field, racing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5000- and 10,000-meter runs.
GINA (MERLONE ) MAREK '02 – swimming, water polo
Menlo was the Girls' Private School League Champion all four years Merlone competed. After going undefeated in five events her senior season, she was named league swimmer of the year in 2002. In her four years, she was undefeated in the 100 breaststroke in league. She set school records in the 100 breaststroke, 50 free and several relays, competing in the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials at age 15. At Menlo, she was a four-time Academic All-American and 10-time first-team All-American. Merlone also played on the varsity water polo team, including the ’98 section championship team. She received a scholarship under 2012 U.S. Olympic swim team coach Teri McKeever at Cal where she was twice named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team and earned the university's award for highest individual, cumulative GPA on a women's team.
ROGER PINEDA '92 – golf
Pineda led Menlo to the NorCal boys’ golf championship in 1992, capping a season in which he defended his CCS regional title and won the league individual crown. The all-league selection and team MVP from 1989-1992 also steered Menlo to a 1989 Peninsula Athletic League championship. He was the 1989 state junior champion and the 1991 Northern California PGA junior champion. He received a scholarship to play at Pacific. From there, he competed in the1998 USGA Amateur Championship and won the U.S. Two-Ball Champion with partner Arron Oberholser, and was a two-time U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier. He competed as a pro on Canadian, California Golf and Nike tours.
