Gotta catch ’em all! For many, this iconic phrase from Pokémon cards is a staple of their childhood, but for junior Neo Erlandsson, it is a serious pursuit. With millions of players worldwide, Erlandsson has earned his spot as the 3rd-ranked player in North America, traveling to tournaments across the globe.
Erlandsson started playing Pokémon in elementary school after a friend introduced him to the card game. Eventually, his lighthearted hobby turned competitive when he joined his first local league, learning different strategies and moves from other players who created a community around the game, according to Erlandsson.
“There’s different leagues that you can go to, and then there were people there who were playing competitively, and they taught me,” Erlandsson said. “I met a lot of new people — played with a lot of people. The friends I’ve made are really the most fun.”
Through international tournaments, Erlandson has been able to connect with diverse cultures and communities. From competing in the Latin America International Championships and Milwaukee Regionals, Pokémon has taken him around the world with his family.
“I got to go to three different continents for games in places like Australia, Japan — I was just in London,” Erlandsson said. “Winning my first event was amazing. It was in Texas, and that was really special. It was where the game became fun, and it was the first time I ever did really well at a tournament.”
Outside of Pokémon, Erlandsson is a member of the varsity volleyball team, where many of his teammates observe and admire his dedication to his passions, according to teammate and sophomore Rory Qi. Not only is his passion a fun hobby, but he has also earned $7,500 in prize money.
Erlandsson said that juggling his competitive Pokémon career with school responsibilities has often been a delicate balance, but he works to prioritize both his passion and his school work.
“He’s had to miss a couple of volleyball things to go compete, but I wouldn’t necessarily say it gets in the way of volleyball, as he does a really good job at finding that balance,” boys’ volleyball head coach Eric Graham said. “At Portola, we’re asking you to pursue your passions. Things like this get me excited because he’s found something he likes, he’s good at it, and in the end, that’s all we want our kids to do.”
Erlandsson’s passion extends beyond the world of Pokémon cards and into his volleyball team, where his dedication and enthusiasm are contagious, lifting the team dynamic.
“He has this sort of chillness about him that our team needs to have, and he has this great balance of taking things seriously — but not too seriously, so he doesn’t get stressed about it too much,” Graham said. “Our team loves having him, and whatever success he has whether that’s on the court or in Pokemon, we love as well.”
