More than 300 Padres gathered on the football bleachers today as Serra Chaplain Father David Mees blessed Serra's newly renovated football field and track, then turned his blessing to the cross-country, football, and water polo athletes who will compete on them this season.

Before the blessing, Father Mees spoke to the athletes about sportsmanship, camaraderie, and teamwork.

As part of the ceremony, each athlete left with a small medal of Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, blessed by Father Mees. Christian Service and Justice Coordinator Meave Ward told the crowd Sebastian's story and how it is one of perseverance and grit in the name of something bigger than himself.

The ceremony also included a reflection from water polo captain Colin Wright, who talked about his experiences with the program as a freshman.

"Freshman year, our water polo team didn't win a single league game. Not one."

Four years and back-to-back CCS Division 1 championship final appearances later, he told the Padres that the scoreboard was never really the point — it was "the guys who showed up early, who stayed late, who kept believing in something before there was any proof it was worth believing in."

Wright closed his reflection with a line from Saint Carlo Acutis: "All people are born as originals, but many die as photocopies." Don't be a photocopy, Wright told his teammates — be the guy someone else believes in first.

Serra holds a Blessing of the Athletes during all three sports seasons each year.