ATHERTON, Calif. – Menlo taekwondo's Nicholas Carlo added on to an already historic week in Oak athletics with a No. 1 national ranking in the USA Taekwondo 87+ kg division. Carlo, a junior from San Diego, Calif., and a transfer from MiraCosta College, becomes the college's first student-athlete to reach a No. 1 national ranking in taekwondo.

Most recently, Carlo competed on the national stage in the USA Taekwondo Championship, where he placed third in his division. His prior seeding earned him a bye in the opening round before he took down New Jersey's Brian Chow before falling in the semifinal to Maryland's Abou Sow, the eventual gold medalist.

Carlo already had an impressive resume under his belt, taking home gold five times in his sophomore season at Menlo, most notably in the US Team Trials, the NCTA Team Trials and the California State Championship. As a sophomore, he also took home bronze three times, with a notable performance at the US Nationals.

Carlo adds a national ranking to an already established core of Menlo student-athletes competing in taekwondo. The Oaks continue their 2026-27 season on the national stage from January 14-17 in Memphis, Tenn., in the 2027 USA National Team Trials.