Nieve Courtney

For Nieve Courtney, the path to water polo wasn’t just about changing teamsit was about changing her environment. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Nieve moved to San Clemente during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to pursue the sport at its highest level.

Between transferring high schools and commuting long hours for training, Nieve was looking for more than just a pool; she was looking for a community that would support her growth as both a player and a person. When she joined the 6-8 Sports family, she found the “safe environment” she needed to excel.

I am a part of the 6-8 family. Rico and Tony are both great coaches who care very much about each and every player. They want everyone to get better and will help you individually. I found so much love in the sport through 6-8.

Nieve Courtney

The Full 6-8 Curriculum

Nieve’s journey was defined by her commitment to the full 6-8 curriculum. Over two years, she completed two semesters of the Academyeven living on campus for oneand participated in ten different showcases. This high-volume exposure allowed her to dive deep into the technical side of the game, but more importantly, it helped her master the “inner game.” With the guidance of Olympic-level coaching, Nieve focused on her water polo IQ and the mental resilience required to compete at the top.

The 6-8 Platform

Through the 6-8 platform, Nieve was able to turn her training into a tangible record of success. By participating in every challenge and showcase available, she built a data-backed profile that highlighted her skills as a versatile 4/5 side attacker. The 6-8 Mobile App and Dashboard provided the metrics to match her newfound confidence, giving her a professional “identity” that caught the attention of the nation’s top programs.

Achieving The Dream

Nieve is now a Redshirt Junior at UC Berkeley, where she competes for the Cal Golden Bears. Beyond the pool, she has been recognized as an ACWPC All-Academic honoree and named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. Looking back, Nieve values the holistic support she received from the 6-8 team:

6-8 helped expand my water polo IQ. It was always a safe environment with the coaches, and they helped me a lot with the mental part of the game. I’m so thankful to be part of this family. Go Bears!