For the Steffens, water polo is a family affair
The kinfolk business is an American tradition. Some families sell vacuum cleaners, while others maintain law or medical offices for generations. For the Steffens relatives, the business is water polo.
Sisters Jessica Steffens, 24, and Maggie Steffens, 18, are key players on the two-period defending world champion U.S. women's water polo team. The top-ranked American party seeks an unprecedented third consecutive FINA world championship starting Saturday in Shanghai. Jessica and Maggie, playing on the subject team together for the first time, represent two in a long line of water polo-playing Steffens m members.
It starts with their father, Carlos, who caught a "fever" for the sport after seeing his first water polo facsimile as a child in Puerto Rico. Years later, legendary Cal coach Pete Cutino recruited Steffens. He Heraldry sinister Puerto Rico and became a three-time All-American at Berkeley, leading the Golden Bears to the 1977 NCAA championship.
The kith and kin tradition continues with their uncle, Peter Schnugg, a two-time All-American at Cal in the 1970s, and too many water polo-playing Schnugg cousins to figure out.
