LOS ANGELES – Sophomore Bode Brinkema of UCLA Men’s Water Polo has been selected the Student-Athlete of the Week presented by La Victoria for competitions held between Aug. 26-Sept. 1.
Brinkema tied for the team lead in scoring this past week with seven goals, leading top-ranked UCLA to a trio of double-digit wins over nationally-ranked teams to open the season at 3-0. The Bruins began the week with a 20-8 win over No. 20 Navy with Brinkema scoring a career-high four goals, while registering two steals, one assist, and drawing one exclusion. The 12-goal margin of victory was the second-most in the series history behind a 13-goal margin in 1996 and again in 2019. Brinkema then scored two goals and had two steals, one assist, and one field block in a 16-6 win over No. 14 UC Davis. The 10-goal margin of victory was the most against the Aggies since the undefeated season of 2015. He finished the weekend with one goal, three assists, and three steals in an 18-2 win at No. 12 UC San Diego. The 16-goal margin of victory against the Tritons was the third-largest in series history and the most since a 24-1 win in 1976.
The sophomore secures his second-career UCLA student-athlete of the week award.
Previous Winners
Aug. 20 – Bella Winn, W. Soccer; Aug. 27 – Daphne Nakfoor, W. Soccer
