Hundreds took part Wednesday evening in a paddleout ceremony for Spencer Becker, the Mater Dei student and volleyball player who died Tuesday in a two-car crash in Newport Beach.
The paddleout ceremony took place near Newport Beach pier.
Mater Dei will have a Mass ceremony on Thursday to remember Becker, who recently completed his junior year. The Mass in the school’s Grotto is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m.
Becker, 17, was a member of the school’s varsity boys volleyball team. His father is Nick Becker, who played volleyball at USC and for the U.S. Olympic team in 1992.
Friends and classmates have been active on social media since Tuesday afternoon with remembrances of Becker, and many of them describe him as a teenager with a fun-loving and outgoing personality.
A Register photographer captured Becker having fun during a match this past season. As the team’s coach, Pat Connolly, talks to the players during a timeout, Becker can be seen staring at the camera, a big smile on his face and his eyes opened wide.
