Biography

She grew up all over Southern California, but eventually moved to Long Beach, where she went to high school at LB Wilson. She showed a natural talent for athletics and enjoyed experimenting with every sport possible while growing up. She played water polo and swam in high school. She decided to quit water polo and focus on swimming primarily, when she got her driver's license at 16, and could make the 45-minute commute to swim with Dave Salo with the Novaquatics Swim Club in Irvine, Ca. She then learned the level of competitiveness needed in order to compete on an international level, and continued to show improvements over a very quick period of time. Within two years of deciding to focus on swimming alone, in 2005, she broke the World and American Records in the 100 meter breaststroke, with a time of 1:06.20, and the American Record in the 50 meter breaststroke, which she has re-broken again in 2007 with a time of 30.53.

After graduating high school, Jessica decided to attend the University of California, Berkeley and swim with coach Teri McKeever. She competed and studied for two years, where she won two individual titles in 2006 and 2007 in the 100 yard breaststroke, as well as setting American Records and winning the 400 freestyle relay, and the 400 medley relay. She decided to turn professional after her 2nd year of eligibility, leaving the University to return to her former coach, and putting her education on hold until after 2008.

Jessica is now training to continue improving her career. She is more determined than ever to make her first Olympic Team, and is enjoying the process every single day.

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