This Saturday afternoon, the stands at Serra’s Freitas Field fill up before kick-off. Cheerleaders from both sides of the team compete with their chants, and students line up to get their snacks right before the game begins. The vibe was fun and more of a neighborhood hangout than high drama as Serra and De La Salle got ready to play. 

By kickoff, both sides were packed with families and alumni, and the noise stayed positive from the student section. On the field, Serra leaned on steady defense and a balanced offense, while the sidelines received all types of feedback from coaches and team managers. Serra Student John Paul states the roles of the team, “Our job is to make everything easy for the players, like hydration, gear timing, so they can relax and focus.”  

The whole night felt welcoming, especially for younger students seeing a big game up close for the first time. I was nervous to sit in the student section, but everyone was nice. 

Freshman Penelope Peixoto adds how she thought the game went, “The chants are always easy and fun, and I think it’s a nice time to hang out with my friends.”