Klein kicks off to an auspicious start

By SHEL SEGAL

Matt Klein, a senior on the Pasadena High boys’ water polo team, got off to an auspicious start with the sport.
“I started my freshman year,” Klein said. “I played a little bit of club, but I quit when I was in the seventh grade because I was a baseball player then. But after my sophomore year I decided to start playing club and I’ve been playing club for two years.”
But ever since then it’s been nothing but goals for Klein.
Klein said he likes the tough play you find in a water polo pool.
“The physicality is fun,” he said. “There’s a little bit of a football-esque manner when you’re in the game. It gets rough, but it’s great in the water. It’s a different kind of experience and I think it’s pretty unique.”
He added there is much more to water polo than meets the average fans’ eyes.
“It’s fast-paced, but there’s definitely a lot going on under the water that not a lot of people see: hitting, punching, kicking,” he said.
Klein’s older brother plays water polo at Brown University in Rhode Island. He added he is trying to follow in his big brother’s footsteps.
“I’m definitely trying to play in college,” he said. “I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m looking at some East Coast schools.”
Klein does swim for Pasadena High, but admitted the lack of contact is why he is not in love with the sport.
“Swimming’s kind of monotonous,” he said.
Pasadena High boys’ water polo coach Jennie Jacobsen-Huse had words of praise for Klein.
“Matt is a three-year varsity player,” Jacobsen-Huse said. “He’s an excellent club player, as well, with Rose Bowl Club Aquatics. He’s our high scorer right now, extremely strong. He has an amazing work ethic. He’ll hopefully play in college, as well. And he has a wonderful game sense.”
Klein said he has learned much from Jacobsen-Huse during her short time at the helm of the team.
“She definitely taught me a better mentality about the game,” Klein said. “She taught me about patience, especially just staying calm in the water and being able to be coached, kind of like a leadership attitude really helps.”
(Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews.com. Follow him via Twitter @segallanded.)

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