The World University Games will take place from Aug. 11 to 23 in Shenzhen, China, and two former Pepperdine University water polo standouts, J.P. MacDonell and Clayton Snyder, will represent the United States as part of the USA “B” Team.
The USA Men’s National Team recently finished sixth in Shanghai, China as part of the 2011 FINA World Championships.
MacDonell and Snyder, graduates of Pepperdine in 2010, have been training at the University of California, Irvine in anticipation of the 26th version of the games, which are also known as the Universiade. The United States begins pool play versus Singapore on Aug. 11, followed by matches against Serbia (ranked No. 1 in the world) and France, with the elimination rounds beginning on Aug. 17.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” MacDonell, a two-time All-American at Pepperdine, said. “My favorite holiday is the 4th of July and being able to wear our country’s colors is special. I’m looking forward to going to Asia and representing the United States and Pepperdine at the World University Games.”
The Universiade features some of the best recent college-aged talent the United States has to offer.
After concluding a spectacular career that saw him finish fifth all-time at Pepperdine in goals with 225, MacDonell went overseas to northern Italy in Genoa and played professionally this past year with SC Quinto, one of the top club teams in the Italian League. Playing as an attacker, MacDonell helped lead SC Quinto to an overall record of 12-7-3 as one of the league’s top 10 scorers.
Snyder, 23, also spent this past year in Italy, playing with the club team Promogest in Sardinia. Playing center, Snyder helped Promogest finish seventh out of 12 teams in the Classifica Giorne S with 30 points and a record of 9-10-3.
The two former Waves are using their experiences in Italy and China as a springboard to make the full men’s national team this September. The top 18 players will make up the roster of the United States team that competes in the London Olympics in 2012.
“My goal and aspiration in water polo is to make the Olympic team,” said MacDonell, a four-year starter at Pepperdine. “I’m working hard to become a better player and to make the national team.”
MacDonell, 23, earned a spot on the full national team’s roster in Feb. 2010 and traveled with the squad to the Volvo Cup in Hungary. He hopes to use that experience to his advantage in China and ultimately England.
“I have confidence going into the games,” MacDonell said. “I can provide leadership that we need.
“Clayton and I are two of four players who train all the time with the national team. We are the youngest guys on that team, but the oldest guys on the ‘B’ team. We both want to fulfill our dreams of playing in the Olympics.”
“I thought it would be a shame if I didn’t put my all into it,” Snyder, who left Pepperdine ranked 21st on the all-time scoring list with 120 goals, said. “It’s my first time representing the United States outside the country. I’m playing with and against some great athletes. It’s a great opportunity to pursue my dream of making the ‘A’ team.”
Also a four-year starter for the Waves, Snyder has been playing water polo since he was eight years old. Playing professional water polo abroad has been a great opportunity for him, he said. The Italian League offers top-class competition and a chance to experience a different way of life. Snyder also has family that reside near Lake Cuomo in northern Italy.
“I would love to go back to Italy,” Snyder said. “I know the language and am familiar with the culture.”
But first he has his sights set on helping his country perform well in China.
“It’s an honor,” Snyder stated. “I look forward to putting on those red, white and blue warm-ups and cap and jumping in the water to compete.”
The United States last competed in the World University Games in 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia, claiming a sixth-place finish. MacDonell was a part of that American squad.
“We have a chance to bring home a medal,” MacDonell said. “We are very excited.”