Thrown In the Deep End: How Jon Carcarey Rose to the Surface

Junior utility player Jon Carcarey playing on the U.S. Junior National Team in June. Carcarey helped to defeat Serbia 19-18 in the quarterfinals of the U20 World Championship. Photos courtesy of Team USA

Jon Carcarey’s journey to playing Division I water polo and securing a place on the Junior National Team is far from normal, especially for someone who once feared the water.

Carcarey is a junior here at Pepperdine University and one of the Men’s Water Polo team captains. Carcarey’s water polo journey began at age 13, when he said his parents encouraged him to pick up a sport. Though it wasn’t his first choice, Carcarey reluctantly joined a water polo camp, despite a deep fear of the pool…