Athletics Night Welcomes Prospective Arrows to St. Sebastian’s

The St. Sebastian's School Admissions Office hosted Athletics Night on Thursday, December 11, providing prospective students and their families the opportunity to learn what it means to be an Arrow. The evening began with a welcome from Head of School Brendan Sullivan.  The coaches of all 13 varsity teams then gave personal introductions and explained their other roles within the community. A two-sport captain, George Kelly ’26 represented the student body by sharing his reflections about how he grew through his athletic experiences, honoring his coaches and teammates as he heads off to pursue Division One lacrosse. Next, Director of Athletics Jon Bartlett delivered an address about the unique mission of our athletic program, which stresses character, scholarship, and service in addition to athletic excellence.  Dean of Enrollment Greg Wishart then welcomed prospective families to visit presentations from coaches and captains to learn about opportunities for student-athletes from grades 7 to 12.  Thank you to all who helped make the evening an informative and welcoming experience.

Committing to Duke has not been the greatest gift the school has given me. I have learned that character and integrity come before everything I face in life. The relationships I have created at Sebs have shaped me in ways which I could never have imagined. George Kelly ’26

Read the full remarks from George Kelly, Class of 2026:

Good evening and thank you for coming tonight. Hey guys, I’m George Kelly, and I am a senior student-athlete here at St. Sebastian’s. I was a captain on the football team this past fall, and a captain of the lacrosse team. I am committed to Duke University, and I plan to be an economics major and play lacrosse. I have learned countless lessons here at Sebs to help prepare me for college academics and athletics. Through the Athletic Department, devoted coaches, and character development, I have been put in the best position to succeed as an athlete, but more importantly, a leader on the field and in the classroom.

I have come a long way from middle school sports as an athlete and a person. I came to Sebs in eighth grade and reclassed into the Class of 2026. Reclassing has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. On the field, I have had a strong advantage in performance and recruiting for college. In the classroom, I have had a better understanding of my classes and time management, and outside both of these settings, I have had an extra year to mature before college. Staring in 8th Grade at Sebs propelled me to success in high school. I learned how to manage sports and workload for my classes and grew relationships with teachers who would be my future coaches in high school. In eighth grade, I played basketball and lacrosse. I was impressed by the commitment of the coaches on the younger-level teams. Ensuring that every student athlete is put in a situation to win and succeed, and that starts in the middle school programs, is a high priority.

Before I played eighth grade lacrosse, I thought it would be a relaxed sport and solely based on fun. Although some elements of that are true, I was taken by surprise at how competitive and goal-driven we were at such a young age. Our coaches were fair when it came to playing time and equal opportunities, but also perfectly balanced, putting us in situations to win. Our teams that consisted of elite club players and guys who were new to the sport, created the perfect balance of competition and brotherhood. Our preparation in practice every day was fun and brought us close to together to execute on game days. This was a perfect stepping stone for high school athletics.

Although tonight is named Athletics Night, academics always takes priority, and our coaches instill that in us. The past four years I have been a part of the football and lacrosse teams. We start practice an hour after school every day to ensure that we can meet with teaches and catch up on work before practice. Our coaches constantly remind us that if the job isn’t taken care of on the other side of the street, then that will impact our opportunities on this side of the street, which is a perfect segway into our teacher-coach model. All our head coaches and vast majority of assistant coaches teach or work in the school full-time, meaning they are always accessible for anything at any time. This dynamic builds the relationships between coaches and student-athletes. It is remarkable that my English teacher can also be my head football or lacrosse coach. The emphasis on relationships on the field and in the classroom strengthens our programs because we get to know and trust our coaches better, which, in turn, leads to excelling in the classroom and on the sports field.

As a whole, Sebs distinguishes itself from any other school, regarding our core values and focus on leadership and character. At Sebs, we are all called to something greater. As Coach Silipo, my lacrosse coach, says, “if you’re not willing to be a part of something greater than yourself, then this is not the place for you.” My coaches have instilled in me to hold my character sacred and put the team first always. We try to be the model program of the ISL in every sport we play, and that starts with sportsmanship and competitiveness. Another two quotes from my football coach, Coach Burke, is “11 as 1” and “we are 3rd”. We are taught to view the team as one body and not eleven players. To do everything as a team and not prioritize yourself over your brother. “We are 3rd” means that we come third in life and on the team. God and your faith come first, your brothers and coaches come second, and you last. This drives us to be unselfish in everything that we do and to put others before yourself. Sebs encourages every student-athlete to be a multi-sport athlete. Playing on several teams only helps you grow as a player in your primary sport. Playing in multiple sports enhances your athletic ability, competitive spirit, and most importantly builds skills as a teammate and a leader. Even though I am committed to play lacrosse in college, I take football just as seriously because I am a competitor, and I want to win with my brothers.

In closing, I’m incredibly grateful for everything Sebs has poured into me, on the field, in the classroom, and as a person. The lessons in leadership, discipline, and character I’ve learned here will stay with me long after I graduate. Committing to Duke has not been the greatest gift the school has given me. I have learned that character and integrity come before everything I face in life. The relationships I have created at Sebs have shaped me in ways which I could never have imagined when I was in your shoes visiting the school for the first or second time. As I take the next step to Duke, I know I’m prepared because of this community, and I hope to carry forward the values that have shaped me into the athlete and leader I am today. As I close, I just want to remind you boys that I can confidently guarantee you that Sebs gives the best opportunities to succeed, and will help you become a better man, student, and athlete.