IT'S a long way from his home in Adamstown, but water polo player Gordon Marshall is doing the Hunter proud in the United States.
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The 19 year old was offered a position at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) last year after he caught selectors' eyes at the World Men's Junior Water Polo Championships in Hungary.
Marshall represented the under-20 Australian men's water polo team, which placed eighth overall.
Having played for the Hunter Hurricanes' junior development squad at state and national level for eight years, Marshall accepted the hard-earned offer and moved to the US in August.
He became a member of UCLA's resident water polo team, the Bruins, and is on track to study engineering.
During the Christmas break, Marshall returned home to celebrate his successful Bruins season with his family.
The team made it through the semi-finals undefeated, but lost the last two games due to a shortage of players.
Marshall said while he was proud of his achievements in the US, he would always belong to his Hunter team.
At the end of the month, Marshall will compete in the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in Perth with the Hunter Hurricanes, before he starts a new season with the Bruins.