School, Church Friends Mourn Newport Student : Grief: Youngsters try to cope with shock of the death of Gray Lunde, 14, who collapsed at high school water polo practice.

NEWPORT BEACH —  Friends described him as a quiet daredevil. School administrators said he was an excellent student. Youth ministers characterized him as a committed Christian.

On Friday, the day after Gray Lunde collapsed moments into water polo practice and died, hundreds who knew the 14-year-old Newport Harbor High School student grieved his conspicuous absence. A water polo game was canceled, and mourners at the high school pinned on blue-and-white ribbons.

“Blue and white make Gray,” said one 14-year-old student, tears streaming down her face. “You didn’t see any smiles today.”

About 50 students and teachers met with district psychologists, who had been dispatched to the quiet campus after the tragedy.

“For a lot of them, they consider themselves invincible and they are shocked to find out life can end so quickly,” said Principal Bonnie Maspero. “It’s been a very somber day.”

Another 100 students consoled each other with song and prayer across the street from the high school at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, where the Costa Mesa youth had been a member.

“We are trying to help the kids work through their pain,” said Barry Martinez, Gray’s youth minister for two years. “The Bible says there’s a time to weep and a time to mourn; well, this is it.”

Gray, a starter on the freshman-sophomore water polo team and a Newport Beach junior lifeguard, died of a heart attack, according to an autopsy report released Friday by the Orange County coroner’s office. The medical examiner could not determine whether the death was due to a congenital heart defect.

About 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Gray complained of dizziness shortly after beginning water polo practice. After climbing out of the pool, he collapsed. Paramedics took him to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, where he died about 4:40 p.m.

About two weeks ago, Gray suffered a seizure at the swimming pool, according to school and hospital officials. He apparently underwent a battery of tests, and was cleared to return to the swimming pool, Maspero said Friday.

Because of patient confidentiality, officials with Hoag Memorial Hospital would not disclose information about Gray’s previous hospital stay.

On Friday, school psychologists and clergy helped hundreds of stunned students cope with their grief. Officials immediately concentrated on letting students express their sadness and anger over the loss, but also gently warned them the grieving process can take a long time.

“This just isn’t something you can deal with in one day and it goes away,” said Barry Macpherson, one of five district psychologists at the school Friday. “The grief comes in waves.”

Overwhelmed by grief, Gray’s water polo coach called in sick Friday, school officials said.

“He’s taking it very hard,” Maspero said.

At St. Andrew’s, scores of students stopped by throughout the day to mourn, still trying to absorb what happened to their friend.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” said Adam Hearlson, 14, a friend of Gray’s since kindergarten. “Today has been really hard at school. Wherever you look you have memories of Gray.”

“He was a daredevil,” added Donnie Deschenes, 14, who often skateboarded with Gray after school. “He used to do all sorts of scary things I would never try.”

Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, which would have been Gray’s 15th birthday. Services will begin at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 600 St. Andrews Road. The public is welcome.