James Beck throws the ball 15 feet in the air and leaps to meet it at the perfect point of descent, sending the white ball screaming over the net, glancing off an opponent?s head. An artistically perfect ace.
It?s just another day on the court for the most explosive boys volleyball player in Harford County.
But things haven?t always come so easily for Beck and his Havre de Grace High teammates. The Warriors? skills were so limited in Beck?s freshman season (2003) that an opposing coach opted to have his players sit down on the court while Havre de Grace was serving ? in effect, challenging the Warriors to serve it in play.
“It was their last game of the season, like a senior thing or something,” said Havre de Grace coach Gary Wasielewski.
Now Beck is a senior, and Havre de Grace is 10-2 after taking the regular-season county title a year ago. Beck has played an immeasurable role in the program?s recent success. Havre de Grace is playing with four freshmen, including Beck?s younger brother, John.
He has blown away the school record with 537 career kills heading into Friday?s non-conference game against John Carroll. And his 2006 season total of 212 kills (before Friday) is a testament to how much he has improved.
But Beck?s persona cannot be defined simply by what he does in Harford County gyms. His work in the classroom and on the canvas is enough to overshadow his volleyball skills.
“He is an incredible artist,” said Havre de Grace art teacher Jenna Zimmerman. “He?s my student aid, so he gets to do the fun things, like banners and stuff.”
Besides his advanced painting and advanced studio drawing classes, Beck also carries a heavy advanced placement schedule of U.S. government, U.S. history and English. He boasts a 3.5 GPA and is a member of the Warriors? lacrosse team in the spring.
“A nice little load this year,” Beck said with a laugh. “I don?t know why I did that.”
He?s considering Towson and Villa Julie (the only state college with a men?s volleyball program), as well as George Mason, Ohio and Penn State. The latter of the three, in particular, offer solid volleyball programs, and Beck is hoping for a shot to play at Penn State.
“That would be amazing,” he said.
Despite his background in fine arts, Beck hopes to major in graphic design and plans to make a career of “designing logos or Web pages.”
But for the time being, he and junior hitter Jon Rogers are leading the Warriors into their final week of the regular season in a tie for second place with Bel Air ? the same team that sat down on the court three seasons ago. The Warriors beat Bel Air twice in the county tournament last season. Havre de Grace hosts the Bobcats today at 3 p.m.
“They can?t lay down on the floor anymore against us,” Wasielewski said.
