Faces off the Field: Arden Besecker, junior outside hitter, Lake Travis

Is there a story behind your name?

Both of my parents grew up in Pennsylvania, but in different parts. So after they got married they were looking to buy a house there. Their favorite house was a big brick house on a street called Arden Road. They loved the name and a couple years later named me after it.

I hear you have exciting college plans.

I am very excited for my next chapter to play beach volleyball at Florida State University. I choose FSU because I love what the team is about and the coach (Brooke Niles). Everyone there feels like a family, and every time I visited the campus I felt so included, and it honestly feels like home. Coach Niles has taught me so much at camps already.

Do you play a lot of beach volleyball here?

Yes, I am playing with the (Austin Junior Volleyball) sand program with head coach Ashley Ivy Swift. I am really honored to learn from Ashley, and she has always been a big part of my volleyball career from an earlier age and has really helped get to this level even in indoor.

What is your favorite volleyball memory at Lake Travis?

It was a game against Vandegrift last year. The gym was packed with fans, and you could feel the energy. Even though we didn’t win, it was really high level play with a great crowd.

Is there pressure to play at Lake Travis because so many of the school’s teams have had success?

There is a little more pressure playing at LT, but I am really glad that our school is so competitive. It feels great to have support from all the other sports at school.

If you could have dinner with four people in the history of the world, who would they be?

Kevin Hart, Michelle Obama, Emma Watson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Why Michelle Obama?

She inspires me to step up and speak up for what I believe in.

Do you have any game-day rituals?

I am a very superstitious person, so I always try to do little things the exact same. I always put on my shoes and knee pads the exact same order, and I always have to tuck in my jersey.

Tell me something about you most people don’t know.

I am absolutely terrified of needles and shots. If you ask anyone in my family, they all know I freak out and get super overwhelmed and can’t do it. They also joke because I am a very aggressive person but I can’t stand the sight of needles.

If you could travel anywhere in the United States, where would you go?

I would go to Hawaii. I love the beach, and it is absolutely gorgeous there, and I want to explore all of its natural beauties.

Rick Cantu