There are athletes who play the game, and then there are athletes who define the game. In the Pacific Zone masters water polo community, Jennie “Grammy J” White falls squarely into the latter category. We are beyond thrilled to share that Jennie has been officially named the recipient of the Dion Gray Award for Female Water Polo Masters Athlete of the Year in the Pacific Zone.
A Legacy Two Decades in the Making
Jennie’s impact on the sport didn’t start with this award; it started in 2002. Alongside Jane Allen, Charlotte Sproul, and Ann Bundy, Jennie co-founded the Soda Moms water polo club. To ensure they had the tactical edge to match their passion, they recruited Andrew Morris, who has served as their dedicated coach for nearly two decades. They used to run old school drills including “Road Hogs”… where they’d practice dribbling through a gauntlet of defenders while protecting the ball. Together, they turned the “Soda Moms” from a startup club into an enduring legacy.
Her trophy case is getting crowded, with championships across multiple age brackets:
- 50+ Division Champion
- 60+ Division Champion
- 65+ Division Champion
And in perhaps her most “legend status” move to date, Jennie stepped into the 70+ men’s division and walked away with a medal!
Why the Dion Gray Award Matters
The award’s namesake, Dion Gray, is a titan of the sport—a pioneer for Team USA throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and a FINA World Cup Gold Medalist. For Jennie to receive an award bearing Gray’s name is a fitting tribute. Both women represent the relentless pursuit of excellence and the belief that water polo is a lifelong calling.
Please join me in congratulating Grammy J! We can’t wait to see which records she breaks next.