Men’s Water Polo Introduces Four-Member Class of 2023
5/2/2019 12:56:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University men's water polo will welcome four incoming freshmen to the program for the 2019 season as part of the Class of 2023, Brown head coach Felix Mercado announced on Thursday.
The class includes four natives of the state of California, spanning the northern and southern parts of the state. The quartet comprises two attackers and two center defenders from four different high school and club programs. Three of the student-athletes stand at 6-foot-2 or taller.
Photo Gallery | Video Introduction
The group includes attacker Cole Atwell (San Diego, Calif.), attacker Leo Berkman (Orinda, Calif.), center defender Nick Berry (San Anselmo, Calif.), and center defender Maxwell Patterson (Portola Valley, Calif.).
Cole Atwell
Position: Attacker
Height | Weight: 5-foot-10 | 170 lbs.
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
High School: La Jolla
Club Teams: La Jolla Water Polo Club; San Diego Shores Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-CIF honors … Won League Player of the Year accolades … Gained First Team All-County and Second Team All-American … Set La Jolla High School records for career goals (462) and single-season goals (238 as a senior) … Competed for his father Tom Atwell in both water polo and swimming … Played on the club level for La Jolla Water Polo Club and San Diego Shores Water Polo Club … Earned San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team honors in water polo and swimming.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because it was the perfect combination of an academically rigorous university with competitive Division I athletics."
Leo Berkman
Position: Attacker
Height | Weight: 6-foot-2 | 200 lbs.
Hometown: Orinda, Calif.
High School: Miramonte
Club Team: Lamorinda Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-Diablo Athletic League as a senior and Second Team All-Diablo Athletic League as a junior … Captained team as a senior … Helped lead team to North Coast Section championship in 2016 … Played for coaches James Lathrop and John Nash … Also competed in swimming for head coach Matt Ehrenberger; earning All-Diablo Athletic League honors … Competed on the club level for Lamorinda Water Polo Club … Selected to the Kap & Futures Super Finals All-Tournament Team in 2017 and 2018 … Won two USA Water Polo ODP national titles in the Pacific Zone in 2015 and 2018 … Earned USA Water Polo Academic All-America honors three times … Gained CIF North Coast Section Scholar-Athlete laurels in water polo and swimming … An AP Scholar with Distinction and National Merit Scholar Commended Student.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown for the chance to be a part of an inspired and passionate community that values a wide-ranging education and making a positive impact on the world."
Nick Berry
Position: Center Defender
Height | Weight: 6-foot-3 | 195 lbs.
Hometown: San Anselmo, Calif.
High School: Sir Francis Drake
Club Team: Sleepy Hollow Aquatics ODP
Prep Accolades: Helped lead team to NCS Division I and CIF Division I championships … Assisted swimming team to three Marin County league titles … Played for head coach Matt Swanson … Also competed in swimming for head coach Brian Hannessy … Competed on the club level for Sleepy Hollow Aquatics ODP … Won a national championship at the ODP level … Came in second place twice at the Junior Olympics.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because of the open curriculum that it offers which allows me to take classes that I have a strong interest in. I also chose Brown because of Coach Felix, Coach JJ and the water polo community."
Maxwell Patterson
Position: Center Defender
Height | Weight: 6-foot-2 | 190 lbs.
Hometown: Portola Valley, Calif.
High School: Menlo School
Club Team: Stanford Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-CIF Central Coast Section honors … Gained All-Peninsula Athletic League accolades twice … Played for head coach Jack Bowen … Competed on the club level for Stanford Water Polo Club … Garnered Junior Olympic All-American laurels … Won two Junior Olympic championships … Earned Faculty Honors.
Why Brown? "I was drawn to the open curriculum, nice campus, and strong math program. I've always wanted to be an athlete in college, and Brown provides a great opportunity to do so."
Gallery: (5/2/2019) Men's Water Polo Class of 2023
The class includes four natives of the state of California, spanning the northern and southern parts of the state. The quartet comprises two attackers and two center defenders from four different high school and club programs. Three of the student-athletes stand at 6-foot-2 or taller.
Photo Gallery | Video Introduction
The group includes attacker Cole Atwell (San Diego, Calif.), attacker Leo Berkman (Orinda, Calif.), center defender Nick Berry (San Anselmo, Calif.), and center defender Maxwell Patterson (Portola Valley, Calif.).
Cole Atwell
Position: Attacker
Height | Weight: 5-foot-10 | 170 lbs.
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
High School: La Jolla
Club Teams: La Jolla Water Polo Club; San Diego Shores Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-CIF honors … Won League Player of the Year accolades … Gained First Team All-County and Second Team All-American … Set La Jolla High School records for career goals (462) and single-season goals (238 as a senior) … Competed for his father Tom Atwell in both water polo and swimming … Played on the club level for La Jolla Water Polo Club and San Diego Shores Water Polo Club … Earned San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team honors in water polo and swimming.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because it was the perfect combination of an academically rigorous university with competitive Division I athletics."
Leo Berkman
Position: Attacker
Height | Weight: 6-foot-2 | 200 lbs.
Hometown: Orinda, Calif.
High School: Miramonte
Club Team: Lamorinda Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned First Team All-Diablo Athletic League as a senior and Second Team All-Diablo Athletic League as a junior … Captained team as a senior … Helped lead team to North Coast Section championship in 2016 … Played for coaches James Lathrop and John Nash … Also competed in swimming for head coach Matt Ehrenberger; earning All-Diablo Athletic League honors … Competed on the club level for Lamorinda Water Polo Club … Selected to the Kap & Futures Super Finals All-Tournament Team in 2017 and 2018 … Won two USA Water Polo ODP national titles in the Pacific Zone in 2015 and 2018 … Earned USA Water Polo Academic All-America honors three times … Gained CIF North Coast Section Scholar-Athlete laurels in water polo and swimming … An AP Scholar with Distinction and National Merit Scholar Commended Student.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown for the chance to be a part of an inspired and passionate community that values a wide-ranging education and making a positive impact on the world."
Nick Berry
Position: Center Defender
Height | Weight: 6-foot-3 | 195 lbs.
Hometown: San Anselmo, Calif.
High School: Sir Francis Drake
Club Team: Sleepy Hollow Aquatics ODP
Prep Accolades: Helped lead team to NCS Division I and CIF Division I championships … Assisted swimming team to three Marin County league titles … Played for head coach Matt Swanson … Also competed in swimming for head coach Brian Hannessy … Competed on the club level for Sleepy Hollow Aquatics ODP … Won a national championship at the ODP level … Came in second place twice at the Junior Olympics.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because of the open curriculum that it offers which allows me to take classes that I have a strong interest in. I also chose Brown because of Coach Felix, Coach JJ and the water polo community."
Maxwell Patterson
Position: Center Defender
Height | Weight: 6-foot-2 | 190 lbs.
Hometown: Portola Valley, Calif.
High School: Menlo School
Club Team: Stanford Water Polo Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-CIF Central Coast Section honors … Gained All-Peninsula Athletic League accolades twice … Played for head coach Jack Bowen … Competed on the club level for Stanford Water Polo Club … Garnered Junior Olympic All-American laurels … Won two Junior Olympic championships … Earned Faculty Honors.
Why Brown? "I was drawn to the open curriculum, nice campus, and strong math program. I've always wanted to be an athlete in college, and Brown provides a great opportunity to do so."
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