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St Charles College Grade 11 student
Nick Beech is proud of what he has accomplished over his four years to
date. Technically, Nick is sixteen, not four. But as a leap-year baby,
he’s learned to kid about his missing birthdays over the years.
That said, there is
clearly no joking around when the Cardinal running back takes to the
field. It’s a good thing given that at 5’8”, Beech is enjoying success
in a sport often dominated by much bigger players. Not that he is
necessarily all that surprised by what seems like a natural path for the
well-spoken teen.
“I like the physicality
of the sport – you just have more control”, he explained recently. In
fact, the long-time resident of the Garson-Falconbridge area admits that
his first involvement in sport was likely hockey, as it is for so many
in these parts.
“I was a good skater but
I wasn’t all that interested in the puck”, he shares with a laugh. One
of three boys in a family that is quite naturally drawn to involvement
in athletics, Beech has also spent some time during the summer enjoying
lacrosse, yet another sport where contact can run rampant.
Still, when he first
stepped on to the field with dreams of following in the Cardinal
Football tradition, Beech remained unsure of exactly where he might fit
into the plans. “I thought it was kind of cool to actually get to play
the position I had always wanted” he acknowledges, looking back on his
start at fullback.
With regard to playing
for former CIS Rookie of the Year Mike Fabiilli, Beech echoes the
thoughts of many young St Charles athletes. “It can be a little
intimidating when you first meet coach Fabiilli on the field. But he’s a
really nice guy and he definitely knows his stuff.”
Enjoying the success of
the Cardinals as we chatted midway through the 2008 campaign, Beech had
no trouble recalling one of his favourite football memories to date. “It
was a basic fullback dive and the next thing you know, I was in the
clear, scoring a touchdown from something like fifty yards out”, he
said.
Following in the
footsteps of older brother Ben in attending St Charles, Beech remains
quite pleased with the choice he made. “I really like the environment at
our school.” Like many teenage boys, Beech remains unsure of what lies
beyond his secondary school days, a situation that can cause parents a
few sleepless nights.
“My father worries – at
the moment, I don’t know what I want to do quite yet”, although he
admits it’s likely he will return for a fifth year at St Charles, trying
to find a niche which appeals to him. And maybe, just maybe, one extra
year of football fun while he’s there.
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