One by one the pitter patter of cleats echoed throughout the
bowels of Drake Stadium.
Each member of the UCLA men’s soccer team trudged into a
dimly lit tunnel underneath the stadium steps, and began its
pre-game ritual.
The musk of the air reeked of month-old urinal cakes, a broken
light dangled from the ceiling, and only drips of water pierced the
deafening silence. Amidst chairs and benches in a cramped corner,
the team huddled, arms intertwined, kneeling as one.
And in the middle, leading the prayer, stood Patrick Ianni.
“Heavenly Father we thank you for this day and the
opportunity to show ourselves as a team,” he said in a
softhearted voice. “Thank you for all the responsibility you
have given each and every one of us. Just help us play our best
today Lord. Keep us focused. Thank you for your love and
support.”
As the team recited the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15) in
unison, Ianni seemed somewhat resolute. The sophomore midfielder
hopes to one day become a preacher, so a pre-game ritual and a
simple prayer mean more than just a few simple words.
Sound far-fetched? Maybe. But it’s a career path that
beckons to him.
“Opportunities will present themselves and I just have to
be patient and wait it out,” Ianni said. “If God opens
doors and wants me to be a pastor, then so be it. If it means
bringing people hope, reaching out to them, or helping them, then
I’m all for it.”
Believe it or not, Ianni’s desire to become a minister
came to fruition out of the blue.
Though he has attended church all of his life, having been
raised in a devout Christian home, the call to become a preacher
wasn’t always there.
But then something happened. All Ianni can remember is that
something struck a nerve in his body during his senior year of high
school. “To be honest I have no clue, it kind of just hit me
and I realized why I was here on earth and I realized the love of
God,” he said.
Though he might not know what stimulated him to even think about
devoting his life to the church, Ianni’s penchant to pursue
his potential vocational choice is not a shock to those around
him.
“I’m not surprised; he has a unique heart for
God,” said Rhett Smith, director of college ministries at Bel
Air Presbyterian Church. “Whatever he decides to do,
I’m sure he’ll be involved with ministry in some
fashion. He has the makeup and character to allow him to do
so.”
Along with academics and the responsibilities that are imposed
on him as an athlete, Ianni has dedicated himself to his religion
by going to three different Bible study groups each week: team
bible study, AIA (Athletes in Action) and Quest.
Furthermore, Ianni volunteers at soccer clinics for
Hispanic-speaking kids in San Clemente during Saturday
afternoons.
“Great guy, wonderful heart, incredible athlete that cares
about people on his team and at school,” AIA soccer
specialist Ray Caldwell said. “I really can (see him as a
preacher) because of his love for God and the Bible.”
No matter what he pursues, faith remains a mainstay in how Ianni
tackles life.
Ianni recalls his freshman year, when his playing time dropped
considerably, and how faith allowed him to readjust his purpose in
life.
“I remember being in church one night and I realized I was
concentrating too much on soccer, and I asked God to do whatever it
takes for me to refocus on (God) and stop putting so much emphasis
on soccer,” Ianni recalls.
“If it means taking my playing time from me to make me
realize it’s not the most important thing in life, then so be
it.”
God answered. In the following match against New Mexico in the
first week of October last season, Ianni sat idly on the bench. He
did not see one minute of playing time.
“I laughed and I was like, “˜God, I wasn’t
serious,'” Ianni said. “But it was a good wake-up
call. God blessed my prayers and it was helpful for me.”
Ianni did not play the following Sunday. Another message?
Perhaps. But just five games later, Ianni found himself in the
starting lineup, where he has remained ever since.
“It’s a sign,” Ianni said. “I
shouldn’t be concerned if I play or not. I can glorify God
whether I’m on the field or not, and that’s what he
wanted me to learn regardless of whether or not I’m
playing.”
It’s that very mindset, the act and the thought of
carrying God on his sleeve, that allows Ianni to excel on the
field.
“Patrick spiritually is very motivated and he follows his
religion and tries to be good to everyone,” UCLA coach Jorge
Salcedo said. “It’s a great thing.”
If anything, being able to integrate religion with his life
choices has allowed Ianni to discern right from wrong.
With the unglamorous portion of athletics surfacing
continuously, from drugs to sexual assault, Ianni remains steadfast
in his faith.
“It’s sad; there’s a lot of distractions out
there, and most of them or if not all of them don’t help a
person,” Ianni said. “I wish everyone would just want
to reach their full capability instead of letting those
distractions get in the way.
“Some guys I can help and others guys just don’t
want it. I like to give advice and people respect me for that. I
just lead by example.”
Whether or not Ianni’s being a preacher is his calling,
one thing will always remain certain. That outlet. That source of
energy. That source of life. It will always be there.