Jan. 2, 2015
SAN DIEGO - Starting with the first week of classes back in late August, we began to look at every varsity women's water polo team in school history, which spans 20 seasons. This week we look at the 2006 team. The Aztecs finished with a 22-12 record and finished seventh in the nation under head coach Carin Crawford. The 22 victories started the program's current streak of nine straight 20-win seasons.
Where are they now?
Cassie Zebisch played at SDSU from 2005-06 after transferring from Long Beach City College. The 2-Meter player from Anaheim Hills, California, helped the Aztecs win a total 38 games and finish in the top-11 nationally in both of her seasons on The Mesa.
Questions for Cassie:
1. Where has life taken you since graduating from SDSU? Where are you living?
"After graduating from SDSU, I moved back to Orange Country to try and figure out what my next steps were going to be career-wise. I always knew sports was a passion of mine, so I wanted to explore the business opportunities and decided to pursue a Masters in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco. I completed their two year program at their Orange County campus and had opportunities to intern for the Angels and AEG. Since 2008, I have worked in Communications and Public Relations for AEG, the largest sports and entertainment company in the world. Since I've started, I've been lucky to be part of so many amazing events, including two Stanley Cup Championships with the L.A. Kings, three MLS Cup Championships with the L.A. Galaxy and countless red carpet award shows held at STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre and L.A. LIVE. Our headquarters are based in Downtown L.A. at L.A. LIVE and I've been living in the Beachwood Canyon/Hollywood area and love it!"
2. How did being a student-athlete at SDSU help prepare you for your career?
"Being a student-athlete played a huge role in helping me succeed in my career. I learned how to work hard for everything I have achieved, how to work as a team, how to lead by example, how to work under pressure, multi-task and also to take pride in what you do every day. As a student-athlete, you have to be able to juggle so many things at once: training, school, work, family, friends, etc. I feel like it has been a natural transition for me in my career, as I feel like every day is still a balancing act."
3. Do you have a favorite game, tournament, or travel trip that you can recall? What made it so memorable?
"My favorite part of being part of SDSU's women's water polo team was all of the lifelong friendships I made. While today, many of us are all over the world, literally (Cia Cobb is still in Dubai! Elana Cervantes just moved to SF from NYC, Ashley Reta just moved back from China), I feel like we're able to pick up right where we left off like no time has passed. Training, traveling and going to school with a group of friends every day for several years, you become family. And I am extremely thankful for all of the friendships I made along the way and I am so proud of what they all have accomplished since leaving SDSU. So many have married, become mothers and have amazing careers, and through Facebook, I love that I can keep up with how they are doing even if I don't get to see them as much as I would like. I love the Snapchats Monica sends me of her daughter, Gwen, she's precious! But I can tell you what I don't miss... 10 x 100's on the 1:10!"
4. You had the opportunity to play both J.C. and Division I water polo. Do you feel like it made you a better athlete?
"I played at Long Beach City College for two years under Chris Oeding and David Kasa, and that is the only reason I was able to go to SDSU to compete at the Division I level. I didn't grow up playing water polo or competitively swimming and started playing the sport in high school. Going to LBCC gave me the extra two years to develop as a player in order to compete at the next level. At LBCC, I played water polo and swam on the swim team for two years, giving me time to focus on my skills and work on the fundamentals I needed to perfect to become a Division I athlete."
5. . Will we see you at the Alumni game this coming January?
"I wish! I am so bummed to miss this year's alumni game, as it is always such a fun day (and night), but I will be on a cruise to Mexico for a few days on vacation!"
Stay Connected with SDSU Water Polo
Make sure to stay updated with Aztec water polo by liking them on Facebook, and following them on Twitter and Instagram.
Former Aztecs can also stay connected with other former student-athletes through the Aztec Varsity Club. For more information on the newly formed athletics group, visit goaztecs.com/avc or contact Johanna Pfeiffer at (619) 594-6444 or aztecvarsityclub@mail.sdsu.edu.
A Look Back at 20 Years of SDSU Water Polo: 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005