Lockney Freshman Bryson Klein qualified for the UIL Academics state meet in Science after finishing 3rd overall and first in physics at the UIL regional meet in Canyon. (Lockney High School photo)
CANYON – Bryson Klein walked into the room carrying a book on Ornithology. That’s not unusual, as many people love birds and are fascinated by them. What makes Bryson Klein walking into a conference room at his high school with a book on birds unique is that he is a freshman, and already has a deep love of all things biological… and theoretical… and substantive.
You see Bryson Klein loves science, and lest there be any doubt about it the Lockney High School Freshman is on his way to the State UIL Academic Meet at the University of Texas at Austin to square up with the best and brightest minds from across Texas on May 7.
Klein comes by his love of education honestly, with a little sibling rivalry thrown in. His grandfather was a college professor. His mother works at W.J. Mangold Memorial Hospital. His brother is now a science teacher at an Austin-area high school after he himself went to state in science while a student at Lockney. “Yeah, it started out of spite,” Klein joked about his goal to make it to Austin this year.
He achieved that goal by placing third overall in the science competition at the UIL Regional meet at West Texas A&M University in Canyon last week. He was the top scorer on the Physics side of the contest, and had one of the top scores in biology. His attitude going into last week’s competition was one of nervousness, but once he found out the results he admits he was relieved, if not a little frustrated at himself. “I feel like I could have done better.”
Not many people likely could have done much better, but Klein is already showing he’s not many people. The Freshman Class President is also a musician; he plays percussion in the Longhorn Band and plays piano for fun. Modern jazz is his favorite style. “It’s a form of stress relief,” he says, adding that he has plans for next school year that include running for Student Council and trying out to be the Drum Major. He’s also looking at life after Lockney High School. “The dream schools are Cal Tech or MIT.” He’s also interested in working with Texas Parks & Wildlife in their field biology or ecology projects.
As for his goals when it comes to UIL, Klein is pragmatic. “I made my goal this year, but based on my scores I would love to maybe be third overall.”
But for his other 3 years? “First place, and maybe make state in Math, Lit Crit (Literary Criticism) or Current Events.”
Based on that ornithology book, his chances are good.
