Athlete Story
Leo Erickson
Concordia University Irvine Men's Water Polo
Concordia University Irvine Men's Water Polo
For Leo Erickson, a standout Attacker from Gresham, Oregon, the dream was always to compete at the highest level in Southern California. Despite being a valedictorian and the Conference MVP at Sam Barlow High School, Leo knew that transitioning from the Pacific Northwest to the water polo capital of the world required more than just local accolades, it required exposure to a faster, more physical style of play.
By connecting with the 6-8 Sports ecosystem, Leo found the "open doors" he needed to secure his place at Concordia University Irvine (CUI).
"6-8 opened a lot of doors for me by connecting me with new people and lifelong friends, as well as by exposing me to higher-level play. I have grown to feel more confident in myself and my skills because of it."Leo Erickson
Leo's journey with 6-8 was about building confidence through competition. By participating in the 6-8 circuit, he was able to test his skills against top-tier talent from all over the country, proving that his Northwest MVP pedigree translated to the national stage. This exposure didn't just grow his game; it grew his network, allowing him to form the "lifelong bonds" that are the hallmark of the 6-8 family.
The 6-8 platform served as the bridge between Leo's academic and athletic excellence. As a high-IQ player who values a "good warmup and deep focus," Leo utilized the platform to quantify his technical growth. By the time he arrived at Concordia, he wasn't just another recruit from Oregon; he was a battle-tested Attacker with the data to back up his presence in the pool.
Now a key member of the Golden Eagles at Concordia University Irvine, Leo is living out his goal of competing against top-ranked schools in a championship-caliber environment. Reflecting on his move to SoCal, Leo credits 6-8 for providing the platform to reach his potential:
"I'm definitely glad to have the opportunity to play at a collegiate level in SoCal. We have an opportunity to win our conference and play against very competitive top schools, which is really exciting. 6-8 made those connections possible."
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