Harris Boyes

School: Council Rock South

 

Volleyball

 

Favorite athlete:  Frankie Edgar

Favorite team:  Philadelphia Eagles

Favorite memory competing in sports:  Playing some varsity my sophomore year when it was my first year playing volleyball.

Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports:  Getting kicked out of lines during the middle of a game because I couldn’t see – since then, I’ve been wearing contacts.

Music on iPod:  Anything, a lot of Dave Matthews Band

Future plans:  College for physical education

Words to live by:  ‘The first and best victory is to conquer self.’

One goal before turning 30:  To be successful

One thing people don’t know about me:  I’m pretty good at drawing.

 

By Alex Frazier

Council Rock South volleyball coach John Wright probably summed Harris Boyes up best, “He is an inspiration.”

Boyes’ father lost his job, his mother is battling cancer and his volleyball team is struggling to win matches.

But Boyes hasn’t buckled under all the adversity he is facing.

In fact, he’s remained positive.

“He’s always looking out for the other kids, always looking out for the younger guys,” said Wright. “He never complains; he just goes to work.”

To help out at home, Boyes has taken a job at Giant Food Store to pay for his bills.

“Basically I pay for everything myself,” he said. “I don’t get a lot of help, both school and college.”

Last year when things were worse at home, his grades suffered, but he’s gotten his academics back on track and is now an honor roll student.

“I had a rough patch,” he noted.

Next year Boyes plans on attending Bucks County Community College hopefully with either financial aid or a scholarship. He is interested in pursuing kinesiology and ultimately a teaching career.

“I like to stay active and hopefully it keeps me active,” he said.

Boyes grew up playing most every sport. He played soccer until eighth grade and then took up football for a year. He wrestled in ninth, 10thand 11thgrades but gave it up this year because of the demanding time commitments.

“Wrestling and a job don’t go together,” he said. “Wrestling is so time consuming.”

Instead he ran winter track as a sprinter.

“I wanted to stay active,” he said.

He didn’t start volleyball until 10thgrade when the team manager, who was in his gym class, suggested he try it.

“It was fun,” he said. “It was something new and challenging because I wasn’t the tallest kid.”

Ironically, he volunteered to be the manager of the girls team last fall.

“I did it so I can get some extra playing time,” he said. “Even though it’s on a shorter net, I practice passing.”

Although he is only 5-10, Boyes has been playing weak side hitter. Boyes’ height is deceptive because he has a 30-inch vertical jump.

“It’s very deceiving,” said Wright. “People look at him and go, ‘I can hit over this kid all day long,’ but he just kind of elevates and comes out of nowhere.”

It’s just something natural for him.

“I don’t really focus on jumping,” he said.

This year the team has been struggling. Both setters have gone down, and now Boyes has had to step into that position as well.

“It’s not his favorite thing to do, but he’s doing it because that’s what the team needs,” said Wright.

“We’re having a pretty rough season but that’s what it is,” said Boyes. “We’ve had a lot of injuries, so we just have to do what we can to just squeak out a couple of wins here and there.”

As a senior captain, Boyes has taken his leadership seriously.

“We have a very young team and he is very good with the kids,” said Wright.

He is both vocal and a leader by example.

“He’s good in a positive way,” said Wright. “He just says, ‘We can do better, we can do better.’ It’s not screaming at people. He’s constantly picking people up.”

“That’s my goal,” said Boyes. “Even though they might be down, I try to get their heads up. Since we’re having such a rough season, we have to look at the positive stuff that’s going on because the negative is always there for us.”

Instead of criticizing others, he takes the blame.

“Sometimes he’s harder on himself than he should be,” said Wright. “He really does have high standards and he does a nice job.”

He’s also quick to spread credit to the other five seniors on the team.

“We all play a role in what we do and say,” he said. “They help me out a lot.”

Bucks County CC doesn’t offer volleyball, but he’s hoping to play at the club level later when he transfers to a four-year college.

One of the highlights of Boyes’ life has been earning his Eagle Scout Badge.

“That right away tells you what kind of character he has,” said Wright.

He volunteers at the Gilda’s Club, a support center for kids and adults with cancer.

For his merit badge, he refurbished a stone patio at the Gilda’s Club.

Having had no prior experience, he just “went with the flow.”

“Between my dad and a couple of friends, we basically took some direction and went with it,” said Boyes.

All the various activities he participates in help him deal with the realities of his life.

“It helps me keep my head on at the right times,” he said.

“He’s just a wonderful kid,” said Wright.

An inspiration, even.