Menlo is consistently one of the top performing teams in Northern California now for over 25 years.
For all five years the top-tier Central Coast Section Open Division has been in place, Menlo has made the top-four every year, earning a trip to the Championship game in 2017. In addition, they have made the Northern California Open Division, essentially staking their claim to a top-eight Northern California finish. Over the past 25 years, Menlo has won five CCS Championships and 19 Peninsula Athletic League Championship titles.
Menlo’s water polo players pursue a singular, values-based goal: Be Your Best. The culture is one based on trust, the pursuit of excellence, and maintaining a big-picture view of the work they do as individuals and a team. They do this in the classroom as well, consistently earning a spot in the top-five GPAs of CCS Water Polo Teams and earning the top GPA twice. They consistently send players to top college programs every year having sent 65 recruited players to play on college programs since 2000.
In Bowen’s 23 years at Menlo School, he has guided his teams to the CCS finals 16 times—five of those as champions. In addition, his teams have won the League Championship Title 19 times. He finished the 2021 season with 499 wins, and earned his 500th in the second game of the 2022 season.
Bowen has been honored as the CIF Model Coach, was selected as the Bill Barnett Distinguished Coach National Award by USA Water Polo and was nationally recognized by the Positive Coaching Alliance as the Double-Goal Coach in 2012—a national award for his positive impact on youth athletes—as well as CCS All-Sport Honor Coach in 2006. He played on the U.S. National Team (1994-1999) and served as the National Team assistant coach in 2002. Bowen was a two-time All-American and Academic All-American at Stanford and an NCAA MVP. Bowen, who teaches both Philosophy and Ethics at Menlo has published several articles on sport ethics and four books—all in the area of philosophy. In addition, Bowen writes a blog for the Institute of Sports Law and Ethics, Positive Coaching Alliance, and Only Sky. His fourth book came out in 2018, “Sports, Ethics, and Leadership,” and he’s finishing his next book, also sports-focused, slated for publication in 2023.
Meet Menlo
<div class="lw_blurbs_title">Playing Our Song</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p><strong>The joy of music.</strong> The Upper School Orchestra rehearsals are a lot of fun and the performances are beautiful.</p><ul><li><a href="/arts/orchestra.php">Upper School Orchestra</a></li></ul><p> </p><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image11690 lw_align_left">
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<img width="611" height="507" alt="Menlo School Orchestra" src="/live/image/gid/4/width/611/height/507/11690_meet-orchestra.rev.1536769873.jpg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/4/width/611/height/507/11690_meet-orchestra.rev.1536769873.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/4/width/611/height/507/11690_meet-orchestra.rev.1536769873.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2048" data-max-h="1701" loading="lazy"/>
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<div class="lw_blurbs_title">Making the Play</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p><strong>Flag football.</strong> It’s a favorite Middle School sport to play–and watch. These guys work hard!</p><ul><li><a href="/athletics/about-menlo-athletics.php">Menlo Athletics</a></li></ul><p> </p><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image3633 lw_align_left lw_column_width_full">
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<img width="1000" height="818" alt="Middle School flag football player" src="/live/image/gid/4/width/1000/height/818/crop/1/src_region/0,415,1800,1888/3633_ms_flag_football_1.rev.1441313308.jpg" data-max-w="1800" data-max-h="1888"/>
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<div class="lw_blurbs_title">Wacky Wednesday</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p><strong>Let’s get wacky!</strong> During spirit week, students show their wacky sides with wild socks, tutus, boas, fun hats, and other accessories.</p><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image11723 lw_align_left">
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<img width="611" height="678" alt="Students dress for Wacky Wednesday during Spirit Week." src="/live/image/gid/4/width/611/height/678/11723_meet-wacky-wednesday.rev.1536773363.jpg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/4/width/611/height/678/11723_meet-wacky-wednesday.rev.1536773363.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1670" data-max-h="1853" loading="lazy"/>
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<div class="lw_blurbs_title">Robotics Club</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p><strong>No one could’ve predicted what happened next.</strong> What started in the basement with a crate of tennis balls is now one of our centerpiece labs…<a href="/live/news/112-robotics">Read more</a>.</p><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image78 lw_align_none">
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<img width="511" height="724" alt="Robotics Club" src="/live/image/gid/4/width/511/height/724/78_cutoutrobotics.rev.1375306722.jpg" data-max-w="511" data-max-h="724" loading="lazy"/>
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<div class="lw_blurbs_title">Menlo’s Learning Lab</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p> We help all of our students learn best, so they can be their best. Our Academic and Learning Support Program provides support and guidance at all levels, from drop-in, faculty-led help sessions; to math and writing centers; to one-on-one sustained study skills coaching; to Student Success Plans to support those with diagnosed learning differences. <a href="/academics/academic-support.php">Learn more.</a></p><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image13671 lw_align_left">
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<img width="611" height="593" alt="John Norris provides academic support in Menlo's learning lab" data-caption="John Norris provides academic support in Menlo’s learning lab" src="/live/image/gid/4/width/611/height/593/13671_meet-learning-lab-2019_3.rev.1568826192.jpg" data-max-w="1218" data-max-h="1183" loading="lazy"/>
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<div class="lw_blurbs_title">A Sea of Spirit</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p><strong>Menlo students love to wear the blue and gold.</strong> The Sea of Gold club organizes fan buses to games—and performances—choreographs cheers, and makes sure everyone knows the words to our fight song, “Go, Go, Go Menlo!”</p><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image11865 lw_align_left">
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<img width="611" height="459" alt="Menlo Sea of Gold" src="/live/image/gid/4/width/611/height/459/11865_sea-of-gold-2018_3.rev.1540216873.jpg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/4/width/611/height/459/11865_sea-of-gold-2018_3.rev.1540216873.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1817" data-max-h="1365" loading="lazy"/>
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<div class="lw_blurbs_title">Menlo Moustache</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p><strong>Injecting a little fun into the day.</strong> In the Middle School, the facial hair came out when Student Council declared it to be Moustache Day.</p><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image1511 lw_align_left lw_column_width_full">
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<img width="1000" height="662" alt="Moustache Day at the Middle School" src="/live/image/gid/4/width/1000/height/662/crop/1/src_region/46,230,1567,1237/1511_mustache_clipped_rev_2.rev.1381878101.jpeg" data-max-w="1650" data-max-h="1237"/>
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<div class="lw_blurbs_title">King Christian</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p><em>Assistant Middle School Athletic Director</em></p><p> King Christian loves the game. And he also loves working with students off the field, helping them develop confidence and maturity.</p><ul><li><a href="/academics/athletics.php">Middle School Athletics</a></li></ul><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image700 lw_align_left lw_column_width_full">
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<img width="1000" height="1274" alt="King Christian, Middle School Athletics" src="/live/image/gid/4/width/1000/height/1274/700_king_christian.rev.1375915714.jpg" data-max-w="1295" data-max-h="1650"/>
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<div class="lw_blurbs_title">A Supportive Community</div><div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p> At the center of Menlo’s mission is a deep commitment to the development and welfare of each student. Menlo’s school counselors are available to support students in a relaxed, confidential atmosphere. <a href="/experience/student-teacher-connection.php">Learn more.</a> </p><p><picture class="lw_image lw_image13575 lw_align_left">
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<img width="611" height="506" alt="Upper School Counselors Tracy Bianchi and Jake Fauver" src="/live/image/gid/4/width/611/height/506/13575_meet-student-support-crop-2019.rev.1566926015.jpg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/4/width/611/height/506/13575_meet-student-support-crop-2019.rev.1566926015.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1508" data-max-h="1249" loading="lazy"/>
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