 | Jesse Smith
POSITION: Defender
HEIGHT: 6’4’’
WEIGHT: 240 lbs.
EDUCATION: Pepperdine 2005
CLUB: Mladost
BIRTHDAY: 04/27/1983
BIRTHPLACE: Kilua, HI.
HOMETOWN: Coronado, CA.
INTERNATIONAL/CLUB: Has drawn acclaim as one of the game’s most naturally gifted athletes… Scored on four occasions at 2007 FINA World League Super Final… Tallied eight goals at 2007 Pan American Games, including four in the tourney opening win over Brazil… Part of 2006 and 2007 FINA World League Super Final squads… Won a gold medal at 2007 Pan American Games… Member of 2007 FINA World Championship team, scoring four goals… Scored six goals for Team USA at 2005 FINA World Championships… Was one of U.S.A.’s top scorers at 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece... Scored nine goals at the 2004 Summer Olympics, including two in his Olympic debut against Croatia and a hat trick against Italy to clinch 7th place for the U.S.... Made a splash in 2002 as an exciting passer, scorer and defender… Scored in three games at 2003 Pan American Games... Scored four goals in 2003 World Championships finals... Top Defender at the 2003 American Water Polo League finals for Newport… Finished fourth on the team with nine goals in 2002 FINA World League…Made senior National Team debut at 2001 Canada Cup in Calgary.
PROFESSIONAL: Spent the 2005-2006 season with Ethnikos Pireus in Greece
COLLEGE: Played at Pepperdine University... A Division I First-Team All-American in 2004… First-Team MPSF pick in 2002... First-Team All-American in 2002... Led the Waves with 55 goals in 2003.
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduate of Coronado (CA) High School... Helped Coronado to three San Diego Section CIF Division II championships in 1998, 1999 and 2000... San Diego Union-Tribune Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000.
PERSONAL: Favorite foods range from sushi to carrots... Enjoys hiking.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS:
2007 FINA World League Super Finals, Berlin, Germany 5th place
2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1st place
2007 FINA World Championships, Melbourne, Australia, 9th place
2006 FINA World League Super Finals, Athens, Greece, 5th place
2005 FINA World Championships, Montreal, Canada, 11th place
2004 Olympic Games, Athens, Greece, 7th place
2004 Torneo di Napoli, Naples, Italy, 3rd place
2003 FINA World League Super Finals, New York, NY, 3rd place
2003 Pan American Games, Dominican Republic, 1st place
2003 FINA World Championships, Barcelona, Spain, 6th place
2003 Jobo Curtini Tournament, Rijeka, Croatia, 3rd place
2003 U.S. Cup, Stanford, CA, 2nd place
2003 French International, Nice, France, 1st place
2002 FINA World Cup, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 7th place
2002 Unicum Cup, Budapest, Hungary, 4th place
2002 Tristar International, Kranj, Slovenia, 3rd place
2002 Eight-Nations Tournament, Nice, France, 3rd place
2001 Pan American Qualifying Tournament, Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep., 1st place
2000 Junior Pan American Championships, Barqisimieto, Venezuela, 1st place
Fun Facts:
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Movie: Stardust
Favorite Actor: Clint Eastwood
Favorite Actress: Angelina Jolie
Favorite Song: “Johnny B. Goode”
Favorite Musical Artists: Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, The Clash
Favorite Color: Blue
Best Present Ever Received: A kiss from his wife
Best Halloween Costume: Dressed up as a shrub with a friend
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