On Tap with ... Kimi Klein

Q: Where are you from, and what is your favorite part about it?

A: I’m from Northern California, Lafayette, and my favorite part about it, probably now that I’m on the East Coast, is the weather. It does not snow there, so that’s a definite perk. Not a huge fan of the snow.

Q: When did you start playing water polo?

A: I started playing water polo when I was in fifth grade. I swam and played soccer my whole life but finally decided to play water polo and liked it.

Q: What made you switch?

A: I’m not a very fast runner. I was never fast, but I was decent at swimming.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not in the pool?

A: Probably just bop around, watch Netflix and hang out with my friends. Big Netflix fan.

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Q: What’s the most-watched on your Netflix?

A: I’ve gone through the whole season of “Friday Night Lights” a few times. It’s a little embarrassing but ... it’s a great show.

Q: Favorite season?

A: First one. They’re all good, but the first one was definitely the best.

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Q: What other groups are you involved in on campus?

A: I go to AIA [Athletes in Action], but I’m not really [involved]. Water polo takes up a lot of time, so I’m not really involved. Sounds kind of bad.

Q: How did you end up coming to Princeton?

A: I didn’t think that I wanted to go to the East Coast. I thought I would stay in California just because the weather there is so much better. But then I visited it, and it was just a really nice campus, and I liked the people, and the water polo seemed good, and Princeton ... you can’t really go wrong academically.

Q: What has been the highlight of your year here so far?

A: I don’t know. I mean, the whole season’s been fun, just bopping around with the team, hanging out with everyone. It’s been just fun to be a part of it.

Q: Looking ahead to Easterns, what is the team — and what are you — specifically focusing on?

A: We’re hoping to win our first game — knock on wood — so we’re matched up with Hardwick, and they’re super physical, so we just need to be physical and match their brutality, I guess.

Q: How are you feeling about going to Easterns?

A: I’m excited. If we play well, we should be fine.

Q: What’s the best part of being an athlete at Princeton?

A: Best part is probably just getting to know people who are older than you. Having friends that you wouldn’t necessarily be friends with if you weren’t on a team.

Q: What’s the worst?

A: Morning practice. I’m not a huge fan of walking from Forbes to DeNunzio when it’s snowing.

Q: You really seem to hate the snow, huh?

A: Frozen hair is not fun.

Q: Who is the funniest girl on the team?

A: We have a lot of characters. Probably [freshman goalie] Ashleigh Johnson. She’s hilarious.

Q: What’s the most ridiculous thing she does?

A: Just when she makes fun of [freshman utility] Pippa [Temple]. She has a really dry sense of humor, so she’s always just cracking jokes, and it’s funny.

Q: What is your go-to pump up song?

A: Mine, personally, is probably “Party in the U.S.A.” I don’t know why; it just gets me really fired up.

Q: Are there any interesting team rituals?

A: I don’t really have any personally, but I know Pippa Temple sleeps in her suit the night before games and there’s a lot of people on our team who do weird things. A few people just like to dance around. Some people get really serious; some people just mess around and have fun.

Q: Who do you think would win if the guys’ team played the girls?

A: The guys are probably faster and stronger, but we’re sneakier, and we could probably give them a run for their money.

Q: Who would you say your idol is, either in sports or beyond?

A: [Junior utility] Katie Rigler.

Q: Why is that?

A: I mean she’s just ... why not? She’s perfect.

Q: What’s the weirdest thing people don’t know about you?

A: I still sleep with a stuffed animal named Green Bean.

Q: Is he green?

A: No, he’s a dog. I don’t know where the name Green Bean came from.

Q: If you could be on any other team, what would it be?

A: If Princeton had a gymnastics team, I feel like that would be something I would pursue. Not that I’ve ever had any experience with that, but it seems like it would be fun. Just being able to do tricks would be cool.