Tennis Captain Brady Klein Leads by Example

Brady Klein has had a remarkable career at Harrison High School, both athletically and academically. You can argue what is the more impressive of his feats: his eleven seasons played on varsity teams or his grade point average of 100.5.

His twelve advanced placement courses and other academic achievements would be enough for any 18-year-old to feel accomplished. But Klein was able to thrive academically, while being one of only ten three-sport athletes in Harrison's class of 2010.

Klein was a key member of the school's soccer and basketball teams as well as the tennis team's captain for the past two seasons.

In his first two years on the soccer team, Klein was used primary at forward. But in his senior year he was switched to midfield. Klein also provided several of the younger players with leadership and guidance throughout the season.

"I pretty much did what coach Loughran needed me to," said Klein. "I would go in at the end of games to play a bit of defensive midfield on the wing and tried to set an example for the younger kids with a good work ethic in practices."

Klein's soccer season was halted when he badly sprained his ankle causing the senior to miss nine games during the year. But his ankle would heal just in time for the start of his winter sport, basketball.

Klein saw inconsistent minutes throughout the basketball season, but never let it get in the way of his effort. 

"I just tried to give 110 percent in the opportunities I did get," Klein said. "I've always tried hard in practice to earn some extra minutes, I just knew I had to play well in my little windows of time so that I could stay in the game. If I got subbed, I got subbed. I just had to accept it and try harder next time."

"Brady was the epitome of a hustle player," said fellow basketball senior Matt Pipitone. "He came in during some very key moments during the season and he never disappointed. Brady is a lockdown defender with a nose for the ball."

Klein was moved up to up to Harrison's varsity tennis team early in his eighth grade season, when Harrison Tennis Coach Sam Fishman noticed Klein's impressive natural abilities on the court.

"He has always been an aggressive player with a good serve," Fishman said. "In the past few years he has established himself as one of the best doubles players on the team."

Fishman named Klein and Saajan Patel captains of the tennis team this year. But Patel suffered an injury early and he was lost for the season, leaving Klein as the team's lone active captain.

"The good thing about tennis is I get to meet the kids at a young age and watch them grow up and mature. Brady became a great role model for the younger kids," said Fishman. "On several occasions he and I would talk before or after the games and practices about strategy and future matchups. I always considered his input and respected his opinion when I made my final decisions."

Klein said Tennis was his favorite team to be a part of, thanks in large part to the mutual respect shared between the player and coach.

"Tennis was the most fun to play at Harrison. I got to see the older kids when I was in seventh grade and I looked up to them, and these past two seasons it was my turn to be a leader and earn the respect of my teammates," Klein said. "Tennis seasons were never overly competitive and the team always got along great. I always enjoyed practicing and coach Fishman was a great coach. He made sure we got the necessary practice but had a lot of fun at the same time."

As a captain, Klein also gained the respect and admiration of several teammates. Sophomore Brandon Ellis was the only athlete to spend all three seasons with Klein on varsity and he was thankful for the experience.

"I always looked up to him and tried to do whatever he did in all sports. I partially contribute my athletic ability to Brady because he always set a high bar for me to work up to," Ellis said. "Not only was he a great athlete, but in all aspects of each sport I looked up to him. He always had great sportsmanship, always knew the right way to act on the court or field and always had a competitive nature that I followed. His influence made me the person and athlete I am today."

As the elder statesmen on his teams, Klein put it this way:

"Brandon Ellis, Andy Smithline, Robby Tiburzi and Grant Wissak were like my children. It has been great watching them improve over the years, especially Brandon and Andy."

Now that his high school career is quickly wrapping-up, Klein will be trading in his maroon and white jerseys for the blue and white body paint reserved for the student section at Cameron Indoor Stadium on the campus of Duke University. The Duke campus will be lucky to have a person like Klein for the next four years.

Best of luck and continued success Brady Klein, Harrison Patch's athlete of the week for the week of June 6 to 12.