3 minute read
Matthew Bennett
24 | DESIGNED BY LISA ZIVANIC MATTHEW BENNETT
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
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Multi-sport athlete shares his journey with juggling multiple responsibilities
ALEXANDER LIU
writer
Multi-sport athlete Matthew Bennett is making a splash in and out of the water.
Bennett plays four sports: volleyball, basketball, soccer and more recently, water polo. He enjoyed the athleticism and challenge water polo presented because it went along with his excellent player awareness and ball control — all critical water polo skills. He is currently Cupertino High School’s top-scoring water polo player, averaging four to eight goals per game.
To Bennett, athletics are part of his identity.
“Some people might dread going to practice,” he said. “But it’s the best part for me […] I love the competition.”
This passion is why he never dropped the sports he picked in previous years.
“I love them all equally,” Bennett said. “They all hold equal places in my heart.”
Bennett’s relationship with sports started when he was very young. His older brother Nick, a CHS grad who also played multiple sports, taught him soccer and basketball. He greatly influenced Bennett, although they were four years apart in age. The brothers played basketball together every night. Said Bennett, “We played super aggressive, super physical. He never let me win.” He says that he always wanted to beat his older brother and that motivation developed into a passion for sports. Said Bennett,“[My brother] has always been a guiding light for me.”
Balancing multiple sports is no easy feat. For Bennett, a typical week in the fall sports season includes 10 hours of water polo practice, five hours of volleyball practice, three hours of basketball conditioning and sometimes a 12-hour-long club volleyball tournament, amounting to some 30 hours of sports per week.
Bennett said that the toughest time of year is during homecoming week, when three sports practices, homecoming dance practices and preparations, as well as several academic deadlines, crunch down at the same time.
However, the dedication pays off, as Bennett holds a long list of athletic awards. His soccer team won the state cup back when he was in seventh grade. More recently, his volleyball club team placed outside of medaling in a national tournament.
Bennett helped the CHS basketball team win the league championship last season and the team was an honorable mention for the all-league team award.
When he is not in a game or tournament, Bennett tries to have fun with his family and friends.
“I like to drive around with my friends and go to Main Street,” Bennett said. “Being able to go out on the weekends with the people you love is something I feel really strongly about.”
Bennett’s experience in team sports provided him with many precious things. He explained that playing sports gave him skills to develop positive relationships with fellow students on the court and in the classroom. Sports connected him with his friends during the pandemic, as he found people willing to go outside and play sports. Another skill Bennett has gained is finding motivation. Said Bennett, “In AP
Physics, I like the hands-on experience.” He finds that an interactive environment helps him stay motivated.
Bennett’s top goal is academics, he said. He wants to get into a highly-ranked college, with playing sports as a bonus. “With me playing all these sports, people might view me as a jock,” he said. “I get it, but it’s associated with being dumb, so it’s not how I identify myself”
MATTHEW BENNETT”
