A multi-sport star as a teenager in the San Diego area, Ericka Lorenz might have been just as successful on the softball field or volleyball court where she earned All-American and All-CIF honors respectively while at Patrick Henry High School. Luckily for water polo, "Monkey" (as she was known among teammates) chose the pool—and at precisely the right time. Tabbed as an emerging star in the National Team pipeline, Lorenz didn't put much immediate stock in being invited for a tryout with Team USA in the fall of 1999 just as she was launching her collegiate career with the University of California, Berkeley. However, her senior team performance went so well that she put college on hold while contending for a ticket to the 2000 Olympic Games, the first to feature women's water polo. Just 19 years old, Lorenz was part of that history-making squad that claimed Silver in Sydney, helping build the foundation for what has become the most dominant program in the world. Lorenz then returned to Cal and fast became a top player nationally, racking up 81 goals in two seasons. She also remained entrenched with Team USA, and in 2003 was part of the first FINA World Championship in program history. That led to a second Olympic Games appearance in 2004, where the squad earned Bronze in Athens. As her international career accelerated, Lorenz launched her club career abroad as well, competing with the likes of Ortigia-Siracusa in Italy. She battled through injuries to take part in a banner year with Team USA in 2007 as the women claimed another FINA World Championship, another Pan American Games title, and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics—all without losing a single match. An attempt at a third-straight Olympic Games for Lorenz was unfortunately halted due to shoulder and knee injuries leading to her retirement in 2008. But her mark was most definitely left on the squad as a dynamic player who helped usher in a new era for women's water polo internationally. She's remained close to the water these days, initially as a lifeguard in Huntington Beach, CA, and now serving as an Ocean Lifeguard Specialist for Los Angeles County.