Photo by: Natalie Kopperud
Tom Leggett’s Journey to Air Force is More Than Meets the Eye
9/22/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Senior utility Tom Leggett has built one of the most decorated careers in Air Force water polo history.
He is the school's all-time leader in goals and points and has been named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team in each of his three seasons at the Academy. He has also earned three Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-America recognitions and led the nation in both goals and points over the past two seasons. He is continuing production in 2026, leading the nation with 70 goals and 91 points through Air Force's first 14 games.
But Leggett almost wasn't in Colorado Springs in the first place.
"It's funny because I was originally committed to Navy out of high school and I even went to prep school for them," the Santa Barbara, Calif., native said. "But then while I was at prep school, my mom unfortunately got sick, so I had to step away for a little bit. During that time Air Force reached out to me and after looking deeper into it, I committed."
That unexpected path to the Rocky Mountains has given him plenty of reasons to appreciate where he is today, but another part of his story is visible every time he jumps in the pool.
Leggett's cap number 11 carries a meaning far beyond his career in water polo.
"When I was at prep school, my mom went into a non-medically induced coma," Leggett said. "She had sinus cancer, so they went in to operate on it. After the surgery, she woke up and was fine, but then she had some brain swelling that sent her into a coma. The official span of how long she was in that non-medically induced coma was 11 days, so that's why I wear 11 on my cap."
The number serves as a reminder of his mother and the circumstances that ultimately brought him to Air Force, but it also seems to reflect the perspective Leggett has carried throughout his career: putting others before himself.
While his individual résumé continues to grow, Leggett has remained more interested in what the Falcons can achieve as a team than on his own individual success. That team-first mentality was evident when Leggett was asked if there was a particular individual award he looks fondly on.
"I mean, not really; getting on the Cutino Award (given annually to the top male and female water polo player in NCAA) watch list was pretty cool but I don't really think about those things," Leggett said. "It'd be way cooler to have a super winning season or put together some good wins with these guys. I care way more about that than individual stuff because it's so fleeting."
For Leggett, that team-first mentality extends to what he hopes to accomplish throughout the remainder of his career.
"I just want to have a better conference record than we've ever had," Leggett said. "Our conference is really tough. Everyone in it is always in the top 15, so just winning two or three conference games is what I would mark up as a successful season."
But that goal is easier said than done.
Leggett has won just two conference games during his career with the Falcons, making the margin for error even smaller in a conference filled with nationally ranked opponents. For Leggett, the answer comes down to one thing: chemistry.
"I think the biggest thing is just chemistry," Leggett said. "There's obviously a bit of a talent gap in the kind of athletes service academies get versus those top ranked universities, so we have to make up for that with our chemistry."
That chemistry will be put to the test against one of the Falcons' most familiar and difficult opponents when they host the Navy Midshipmen on Thursday, Sept. 24.
With the Naval Academy coming to Colorado Springs for Air Force's home opener, Leggett and the rest of the seniors have another opportunity to accomplish something that has eluded them throughout their careers.
"The Navy game is so personal for all of our seniors because we haven't won it yet," Leggett said. "They have always had a talented squad to say the least, but this year the gap is super close. We just finished a couple games out east and when you compare our score lines to their score lines, they are super similar."
When asked what will be most important against Navy, Leggett pointed to a few keys while also giving a nod to freshman goalkeeper Wyatt Sturgeon.
"Just playing as a team and shutting down their talented guys," Leggett said. "Wyatt has been playing out of his mind, so he'll definitely be a key to success for us as well."
As a Navy commit in high school, this game is so meaningful for Leggett, and the senior leader is not hiding his excitement about one last opportunity to do something special.
"It'll be a crazy game. I'm so stoked for it, and I'm confident we can pull away the W on that one."
He is the school's all-time leader in goals and points and has been named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team in each of his three seasons at the Academy. He has also earned three Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-America recognitions and led the nation in both goals and points over the past two seasons. He is continuing production in 2026, leading the nation with 70 goals and 91 points through Air Force's first 14 games.
But Leggett almost wasn't in Colorado Springs in the first place.
"It's funny because I was originally committed to Navy out of high school and I even went to prep school for them," the Santa Barbara, Calif., native said. "But then while I was at prep school, my mom unfortunately got sick, so I had to step away for a little bit. During that time Air Force reached out to me and after looking deeper into it, I committed."
That unexpected path to the Rocky Mountains has given him plenty of reasons to appreciate where he is today, but another part of his story is visible every time he jumps in the pool.
Leggett's cap number 11 carries a meaning far beyond his career in water polo.
"When I was at prep school, my mom went into a non-medically induced coma," Leggett said. "She had sinus cancer, so they went in to operate on it. After the surgery, she woke up and was fine, but then she had some brain swelling that sent her into a coma. The official span of how long she was in that non-medically induced coma was 11 days, so that's why I wear 11 on my cap."
The number serves as a reminder of his mother and the circumstances that ultimately brought him to Air Force, but it also seems to reflect the perspective Leggett has carried throughout his career: putting others before himself.
While his individual résumé continues to grow, Leggett has remained more interested in what the Falcons can achieve as a team than on his own individual success. That team-first mentality was evident when Leggett was asked if there was a particular individual award he looks fondly on.
"I mean, not really; getting on the Cutino Award (given annually to the top male and female water polo player in NCAA) watch list was pretty cool but I don't really think about those things," Leggett said. "It'd be way cooler to have a super winning season or put together some good wins with these guys. I care way more about that than individual stuff because it's so fleeting."
For Leggett, that team-first mentality extends to what he hopes to accomplish throughout the remainder of his career.
"I just want to have a better conference record than we've ever had," Leggett said. "Our conference is really tough. Everyone in it is always in the top 15, so just winning two or three conference games is what I would mark up as a successful season."
But that goal is easier said than done.
Leggett has won just two conference games during his career with the Falcons, making the margin for error even smaller in a conference filled with nationally ranked opponents. For Leggett, the answer comes down to one thing: chemistry.
"I think the biggest thing is just chemistry," Leggett said. "There's obviously a bit of a talent gap in the kind of athletes service academies get versus those top ranked universities, so we have to make up for that with our chemistry."
That chemistry will be put to the test against one of the Falcons' most familiar and difficult opponents when they host the Navy Midshipmen on Thursday, Sept. 24.
With the Naval Academy coming to Colorado Springs for Air Force's home opener, Leggett and the rest of the seniors have another opportunity to accomplish something that has eluded them throughout their careers.
"The Navy game is so personal for all of our seniors because we haven't won it yet," Leggett said. "They have always had a talented squad to say the least, but this year the gap is super close. We just finished a couple games out east and when you compare our score lines to their score lines, they are super similar."
When asked what will be most important against Navy, Leggett pointed to a few keys while also giving a nod to freshman goalkeeper Wyatt Sturgeon.
"Just playing as a team and shutting down their talented guys," Leggett said. "Wyatt has been playing out of his mind, so he'll definitely be a key to success for us as well."
As a Navy commit in high school, this game is so meaningful for Leggett, and the senior leader is not hiding his excitement about one last opportunity to do something special.
"It'll be a crazy game. I'm so stoked for it, and I'm confident we can pull away the W on that one."
Players Mentioned
UT
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/ Men's Water PoloTuesday, October 06
Wednesday, September 30
Thursday, September 24
Thursday, September 24
