NHS students compete in water polo

Niwot High School students Jack Klein and Logan Waldron spend 12 to 15 hours a week year-round, training and practicing water polo for the Rocky Mountain Neptunes, a water polo club based in Boulder.

Both have similar stories. They started out swimming, but preferred team sports and through watching the Olympics, found the sport. Water polo is often heralded as the toughest sport in which to compete. Players must tread water for the entire game while sprinting back and forth, playing both offense and defense.

The sport is very physical. Both Klein and Waldron have excelled at the sport and are among the top players in the state. They have been selected multiple times to represent the Mountain Zone at Nationals as part of the Olympic Development Program, and have competed at Junior Olympics.

Klein, a senior, has been named a USA Water Polo Academic All-American three times. He plays center defender, which is a defensive specialist position, and perfect for his 6'6" stature and physical play.

Waldron, a freshman, plays the attacker position in which he creates offense, which fits his accelerated swimming speed skills.

Three years ago, water polo became a club high school sport. Klein and Waldron represent Niwot High School and play for the closest team, which is the Boulder Valley School District team.

The team won the state championship twice and finished runner-up another year. Klein has served as captain of the team the last two years, and is confident that Waldron and his teammates will continue to compete for the title.

Both Klein and Waldron said they would love to see the St. Vrain Valley School District begin fielding a team in the near future. Waldron also plays basketball for Niwot High School, while Klein swims for the Silver Creek High School team in the spring, which combines with Niwot High. Klein is planning to play boys volleyball this year for Niwot, which will add to the sport this spring. After graduation, Klein plans to attend Wake Forest University.