Kenny Macklin • Jun 02, 2021

Jesse Smith: Here's Why the California State Games is Special

Jesse Smith is an American Water Polo player and four-time Olympian.

He is a current member of the U.S. Men’s National Team, and has been a member of the Olympic team since 2004, winning a silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games. Smith is a southern California native and is now a sitting Community Advisory Board member for the California State Games organization. We spoke with Jesse about his position with the California State Games and why he thinks the organization is important for California's amateur athletes. 

WHAT INTERESTED YOU ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA STATE GAMES TO BECOME A SITTING BOARD MEMBER?


The California State Games has committed to promoting and nurturing the health, education and competitive spirit of California's youth. Just like LA84, Challenged Athletes Foundation, and the 2028 Olympic organization, the Cal State Games organization has a big impact on our youth communities. There's a ton of storied expertise in the rest of the board: Willie Banks, Olympian; Earl Edwards, UCSD Athletic Director; Tracy Lamb, Consultant National Olympic Committees; Buck Martin, City of San Marcos Parks & Recreation; Steve Schell. So my role as an active Olympian has been to say, Yes, to any requests made of me and to remain committed to help in the future. 


WHAT MAKES THE GAMES UNIQUE OR SPECIAL COMPARED TO OTHER SPORTING EVENTS OR ORGANIZATIONS YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF?


I believe Sandi Hill has a long term vision to help youth through shared sporting experience and creating opportunity. She's proven that by remaining committed to implementing her vision for so many years; especially the efforts she and her team have put in during the last four years. That's pretty special and a huge component of why I love being involved in the organization. The organization also hosts a great Opening Ceremonies that really evokes the experience of being in the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics. I love that feeling of representing something bigger than yourself. It's hard to mimic the Olympics at the local level but the athletes at the Cal State Games get a chance to represent their sport in front of ten to twenty thousand people. It's a pretty special opportunity. 


CLEARLY, SPORTS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AS YOU ARE AN OLYMPIAN! WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTO SPORTS AND SPECIFICALLY, WATER POLO? 


Great question. Sports are important to me because they gave me the opportunity to learn so many things. I've always been a student of the game. As I've gotten older that "game," has really expanded and evolved to be a student of "life." I love seeing sport icons like Bill Walton, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ryan Nece (UCLA), John Thomas O'Sullivan (San Diego) demonstrate their excellence in careers post sport. Water polo is a great metaphor for business because you are always almost drowning, until you are just crushing and winning everything. It's similar to that. I transitioned from individual swimming into team oriented water polo. Water polo was one of the first team sports in the Olympics. I love the team aspect. 


WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND PARTICIPATE IN THE CAL STATE GAMES? HOW COME? 


Cal State Games are so great because they really are available to a lot of athletes. They even have water polo, [laugh out loud]. I love the diversity in the games and the inclusion.  Great stuff really! I think everyone who can participate should go for it, because it's a great way to experience a taste of what the Olympics Games are all about! 


YOU'VE FREQUENTED THE OPENING CEREMONIES A FEW TIMES. WHAT DRAWS YOU TO THIS EVENT, AND DOES IT BRING BACK MEMORIES OF ANY OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONIES?


Yes, the Opening ceremonies absolutely makes the California State Games unique. I love the experience of meeting so many great people and getting an opportunity to represent your sport and your community. Seeing the teams circle the stadium waving to fans, the live music and speeches, even skydivers flying our flag in! So special! Go USA!


The California State Games is a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a quality amateur athletic event to foster the Olympic dream. Your donation will help us continue to provide competitive events for California’s amateur athletes and provide them the Olympic experience. 

7 Must-See Beaches in San Diego

23 Apr, 2024
The California State Games is host to the 2024 State Games of America presented by National University . Based in sunny San Diego, this is a great chance for SGA athletes to compete alongside the nation’s best athletes while enjoying one of the nation’s best travel destinations. We like to think that everything is better by the beach; here are seven must-see beaches in America’s Finest City. 1. La Jolla Shores La Jolla Shores is a popular and long stretch of beach perfect for families and kids to relax, play, and build sandcastles. In the summer, you might see the famous La Jolla Leopard Sharks . 2. La Jolla Cove La Jolla Cove , rated the U.S.'s most beautiful beach in 2023 , offers breathtaking high cliffs and hidden coves. Visitors can explore tide pools and spot sea lions, capturing the essence of San Diego's coastal charm. 3. Sunset Cliffs Sunset Cliffs boasts rocky coastlines, tide pools, and stunning ocean views. Located just south of Ocean Beach, it offers a perfect sunrise view for surfers. 4. Pacific Beach Pacific Beach caters to adults with its vibrant scene of restaurants, bars, and a lively boardwalk. It offers a mix of tours and sightseeing, perfect for a fun beach day in San Diego. 5. Ocean Beach The venue for the 2024 SGA Surfing Championship , Ocean Beach is one of San Diego’s best spots to watch the surf. OB isn’t for beach loungers, but those who want to take a beach walks, enjoy the surf scene, and smell the salty air alongside the pier. 6. Del Mar Beach Del Mar Beach is a popular beach for its scenery and lounging, and it’s also a great location for athletes who will spend a lot of time in northern San Diego. Just south of Encinitas, Del Mar Beach is incredibly clean and offers a soft sandy beach, grassy areas, and facilities. 7. Windansea Beach Windansea Beach in La Jolla offers beautiful surf and stunning scenery with fewer crowds. It's great for sunbathing and exploring unique rock formations. Just remember the waves are strong here! Know before you go! When exploring new or unfamiliar beaches, stay informed by checking weather reports and learning more about your beach destination . Have you registered for the 2024 State Games of America presented by National University? Find out whether you’re eligible and register now!

Eligibility: State Games of America presented by National University

By MIkaela Nadolski • 06 Mar, 2024
Excitement is building for the 2024 State Games of America presented by National University, and a common question we've received is: Can anyone compete? In short, no. The long answer is that you must qualify. Fortunately, there are various ways to qualify, depending on whether you are a California resident or non-California resident for this biennial event. California Resident Since the 2024 State Games of America (SGA) are hosted in San Diego by the California State Games, ALL California residents can register for the SGA just like they would for a normal California State Games. Due to the NCSG Neighboring State Policy, athletes in Nevada (which does not have its own state member organization) also qualify for the 2024 State Games of America. Non-California Resident If you’re an athlete coming from one of the other 30+ National Congress of State Games (NCSG) Member State programs, qualification is more extensive. Here’s how you may have qualified depending on the year you competed in an NCSG Member State program: 2022: All gold, silver, and bronze medalists qualify from NCSG Member State programs, both Winter and Summer. Any medalist from the 2022 SGA held in Ames, Iowa qualifies. 2023: All gold, silver, and bronze medalists qualify from NCSG Member State programs, both Winter and Summer. 2024 (before July 1): All gold, silver, and bronze medalists qualify from NCSG Member State programs, both Winter and Summer. Any medalists from the 2022 State Games of America are eligible to compete in 2024. Sport Qualification Lastly, review the offered sports as the final step to check for qualification. Even if you meet the qualification criteria as a California or non-California Resident, your sport must be offered in the 2024 State Games of America to participate. Each host state determines the sport lineup, so even if your sport was offered in 2019 or 2022 in your home state, it may not be offered in the 2024 State Games of America. This may be influenced by regional or geographic location, facilities, sport directors, and more. If you qualify to compete after reviewing the qualification, visit the registration information as soon as possible.
California State Games Pickleball Championship

Let's Play Pickleball: The Fastest Growing Sport in the Country

By MIkaela Nadolski • 03 May, 2023
Pickleball is all the rage these days. Gyms all over California and the nation have converted tennis courts into pickleball courts as the number of players only continues to grow. And although pickleball is one of the newer sports at the California State Games, it has been easy to find players. So let's dive into why pickleball's popularity has soared in San Diego.
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