Some students are just born Bruins.
They have that blue and gold in their veins that surges with
every eight-clap and each cry of “UCLA, fight, fight,
fight!”
The name UCLA just brings about a sense of family and
tradition.
So when both Peter and Katherine Belden decided to attend UCLA,
their parents, Dwight and Claire ““ class of 1978 ““
could not have felt any more ecstatic.
“As an alum, I feel UCLA is such a great school,”
Claire said. “But we felt it was their choice, and they were
going to make up their own minds. Luckily, UCLA appealed to them
right off the bat.”
“Being a Bruin was my only choice,” Peter said.
“This was the only school that I applied to, and I never
considered anywhere else.”
Even at age 14, Peter was destined to attend UCLA. After his
parents won a silent auction, Peter got the chance to sit with the
1996 UCLA men’s team during the SoCal tournament. It was only
fitting that Peter brought the team good luck as UCLA went on to
capture the SoCal tournament and later that same year the NCAA
title.
However, for Katherine, UCLA was far from her top choice of
colleges.
“I didn’t want to be seen as the one who followed
her brother and her parents to school, so I was looking at Stanford
and Princeton,” Katherine said. “But when I came to
visit, I ended up falling in love with UCLA.”
However, what separates both Peter and Katherine from any other
student walking up and down Bruin Walk has been their contribution
to UCLA’s water polo program.
Peter, a junior and captain of the men’s water polo team,
has been an integral member in leading the No. 4 Bruins (17-5
overall, 6-1 MPSF) to a successful season thus far.
“Peter is one of the most intelligent players I’ve
been able to coach,” coach Adam Krikorian said.
“He’s done a great job providing our team with the
leadership and knowledge of the sport we need.”
Though she played a limited role last season, sophomore driver
Katherine was a member of the 2003 NCAA women’s water polo
championship team.
“Katherine is like our bundle of energy all rolled up into
one person,” Krikorian said. “She’s very feisty,
and she’s never afraid of anyone. She’s definitely
going to play a big role in how we do this year.”
Growing up, the “Beldos” ““Â the nickname
given to both Katherine and Peter by their teams ““ have
always had a friendly competition over awards and
championships.
“I get a little bit of crap at home because Katherine won
her CIF ring her freshman year in high school, and now she’s
the first to get an NCAA one,” Peter said.
“There’s a little bit of competition because
she’s got two rings, and I’ve only got one. I’m
still waiting to get my NCAA ring.”
Though Peter might find himself one championship ring short,
both brother and sister have the utmost respect for each other.
“I admire her determination,” Peter said.
“It’s tough being the top player in high school and
coming into such a good team. But I admire her for sticking through
it and I know she’s going to reap the benefits that come
along with being patient.”
“Peter has a really good attitude in practice and
games,” Katherine said. “He never complains, and
that’s inspirational for me because it makes me want to stick
it out and not complain either.”
Growing up in and around the water in Newport Beach, it was only
natural that both Peter and Katherine fell into the sport. Both of
them started out in club swimming, but their father, Dwight,
introduced Peter and Katherine to the game of water polo.
Whether it is the physicality, intelligence or intensity that
draws Peter and Katherine to water polo, both enjoy playing the
game and flourish doing so.
“Peter is a very hard worker and can handle an immense
amount of pressure,” Claire said. “Katherine has always
been mature and self disciplined, and she sets high standards for
herself.”
While water polo and winning a national championship remains on
Peter’s mind, Katherine has been able to balance her time in
the water with her sorority life.
“As parents we’ve been very careful in allowing them
to follow their own dreams and to stay out of their way while
giving them the love and support that they need,” Dwight
said. “They’ve been outstanding and mature adults and
I’m proud of all the accomplishments they both have made both
in and out of the water.”
Perhaps in a few years the Belden Bruin tradition will continue
with another wave of “Beldos” making a splash at
UCLA.