Men's Water Polo: Hale is team's calm, confident core

Though he grew up playing tennis, soccer and basketball, and though he tried his hand at rowing, Matt Hale has finally found his place: in the pool, playing water polo.

Hale, a junior center defender, scored three goals in No. 18 Princeton’s impressive 5-4 win over No. 12 Navy to win at the Eastern Championships. That win earned the team a spot in the NCAA Final Four, which the Tigers will host at DeNunzio Pool this weekend.

Hale was born in England and lived there until he was 11. Tall and lean, he was always an athlete, but he did not play water polo until his sophomore year of high school in Northern California.

“I actually just didn’t have a fall sport,” Hale said. “My school had a good program. I had a few friends on the team, and my older brother played.”

This casual decision changed Hale’s future plans. Once it came time to choose a college, it became clear that water polo could be a determining factor. Knowing that he wanted the college experience as well as a competitive team, Princeton became a clear choice for its reputation, shorter season and excellent academics.

A Junior Olympian and a fourth-team All-American as a senior in high school, Hale easily fit the team’s needs, head coach Luis Nicolao explained.

“He is a wonderful defensive player, and he has something you can’t teach: size,” Nicolao said. “He’s just a smart player that can do it all for us.”

“[Hale] is just very gifted physically to be a two-meter defender,” senior attack Doug Wigley said. “He is in a good position to defend at all times. His length combined with his water polo IQ helps him out a lot.”

Hale has been a solid presence on the team during all three seasons. He has led the squad in steals every fall, and this year he has a team-high five blocks.

“I am definitely more of a defensive-minded player,” Hale said. “I got recognition because I scored the most goals in that game [against Navy], but that usually doesn’t happen. I usually match up with the other team’s best player and try to shut him down.”

His efforts on the defensive end have been recognized and appreciated by his teammates.

“He’s not always that guy that’s getting the headlines,” Wigley said. “But he’s working the hardest out of anyone. It shows in practice, in the weight room and in the swim sets.”

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Senior attack Mark Zalewski credits Hale for effectively organizing the defense in crucial moments this season.

“Our defense was actually what allowed us to win the championship this year,” Zalewski said. “His job is to be the quarterback of our defense, so he will yell out to certain players what they need to be doing … He’s stepped into that leadership role brilliantly.”

Despite his role in the defense, he has netted 17 goals this season. He scored the first goal against Navy a mere 51 seconds into the game, and he posted his third career hat trick.

Soft-spoken and calm, it is unsurprising that he came through in the championship game.

“He’s certainly a leader on the team,” Zalewski said. “Our team is a good example of a group of guys with leaders that aren’t necessarily the most vocal. He leads by example. His playing just speaks for itself.”

Nicolao has noticed Hale’s ability to keep the team calm and steady in stressful moments.

“He tends to be a quiet guy, but at the same time, I think the guys look to him for guidance,” Nicolao said. “I’ve never seen Matt get upset. He’s really been a good influence for all the guys on the team, because when things don’t go well, or we’re down, Matt is the one guy on the team who is still very calm.”

“He has a really refreshing personality that is always positive despite what is happening in or out of the water,” Nicolao added.

When asked what attracts him to the sport, Hale responded with a mix of dry humor and seriousness.

“You get jacked and tan, except for not tan if you’re playing on the East Coast,” Hale joked. “I like how it’s really physical,” he continued, “and I feel like I’m using my whole body. I’m in good overall shape, but there’s also a lot of strategy to it.”

“It is a personal battle mixed with a team sport,” he added.

As for his best memory in the pool, Hale easily pointed to Princeton’s win over Navy.

“I think we just had it,” Hale said. “[It was] the joy of winning the championship, finally, after three years of trying and coming so close last year. We finally did it.”

“Hopefully we can do it again next year,” he added. “It is one thing I was hoping to accomplish while I was at Princeton.”

Hale and his teammates will face USC, the top-ranked team in the nation, on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in DeNunzio Pool. The winner will face either fourth-ranked UCLA or eighth-ranked Loyola Marymount in the finals.