Merten attended the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire from 1977 to 1981 and played for head coach Ken Anderson's Blugolds men's basketball team.

[1] In 1979 Merten was a member of the United States men's national basketball team at the World University Games.

The team, which featured future NBA player Kevin McHale, won a gold medal.

[2] He played exhibition games with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1981 NBA preseason, but was cut from their regular season roster.

Merten signed with the Las Vegas Silvers in 1982, but was traded during the season to the Wisconsin Flyers.