Bio

Melissa de Jonckheere knew what it took to succeed in and out of the pool.
In 2006, the Arlington High School graduate led the Tigers to the Orange Empire Conference water polo championship and a state runner-up finish, losing to Long Beach City, 6-5, in five overtimes. She finished the season as perhaps the College’s most decorated freshman athlete at the time, earning all-conference, all-region, all-state, and All-American honors.

Her stellar-athlete reputation grew during the swim season as she qualified for seven events at the California Community Colleges State Swim Championship Meet.

She concluded her swim season by earning All-American honors.

de Jonckheere returned to the pool in the fall of 2007 determined to take what Long Beach City kept the Tigers the previous season: a state championship. Behind de Jonckheere, the Tigers’ water polo team went wire-to-wire winning 35 consecutive matches, the program’s first unbeaten season, and the program’s second California Community College State Championship with a 12-4 victory over American River.

In the championship match, de Jonckheere scored three goals – all in the second half – breaking open a close match. Awards continued to roll in as de Jonckheere earned the Orange Empire Conference MVP award and was selected to the all-region, all-state, and All-American teams, and was named MVP at the state tournament. She finished her sophomore season with 100 goals. de Jonckheere continued her water polo success with another stellar swim season, qualifying for seven events at the state swim championships and earning

All-American honors. She finished her Tigers career as a four-time All-American, and continues to hold the single-season scoring record for water polo. She continued her career at San Diego State University where she played every match. Her senior season she was selected the Aztecs’ captain. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social science and continues her life in the pool as an associate animal trainer at Shamu Stadium, where she works with 10 killer whales.