Kevin Dare, the Penn State sophomore who was killed in a pole vaulting accident Saturday at the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championship, was remembered as caring and free-spirited at his funeral mass yesterday.

Dare, a 19-year old State College resident, died attempting a vault at the meet in Minnesota when he fell and hit his head on the metal box used to plant the poll.

Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Parkway, filled to capacity well before the 10:30 a.m. service. On a bitterly cold day, the sun appeared moments before Dare's casket was carried into the church, spreading yellow light from small stained-glass windows above the altar.

Dare was well loved in the State College and Penn State communities, and the effect his death has had was evidenced yesterday.

His brother and best friend, Eric, competes for the track and the football teams. Players and coaches from the Nittany Lion football team, including head coach Joe Paterno, filled a large section of the church, and athletes from at least 10 varsity sports were in attendance. Three buses were chartered to carry the track and field teams and other athletes and staff. Athletic Director Tim Curley also was in attendance.

Emotions ran high throughout the service, with sobs punctuating the grief. The congregation sang the refrain of "On Eagle's Wings" for the responsorial psalm.

The Rev. Martin D. McCamley assured the congregation that God had a new plan for Kevin and that God felt the mourners' grief.

"Today we face an infinitely deep dilemma," he said. "The eternal 'why?' of the death of a youth.

"It is beyond our understanding and we can only turn to God and scream: Why God, why?" he said.

McCamley described Dare as having a "persuasive eloquence" that endeared him to everyone he met. He said that the time of his death coinciding with the end of the Olympics was symbolic because Kevin was "a man of Olympic proportions" who ultimately dreamed of competing in the event one day.

"He knew only how to do his best, and his best was a beacon of light," McCamley said.

Katie Martin and Penn State defensive back Bryan Scott sang "One Sweet Day" by Boys II Men and Mariah Carey to open the reflections.

Ben Karcz, a captain on last year's track team, spoke on behalf of Kevin's teammates. He brought along a book with comments written by team members and read several excerpts.

Eric Dare concluded the eulogy, stepping to the podium with tears already streaking down his face.

"Kevin was definitely the greatest person, son, brother and friend I've ever known," he began.

Eric Dare recalled the way his brother befriended kids of all ages, no matter who they were. If somebody was getting picked on, Kevin stepped in, he said.

He told of how friend and Penn State student David Roush started a Web page to celebrate Kevin's performance at the Big Ten Championships last season and how the site has recently been turned into a tribute page (http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/d/l/dlr213/psukditty.html). Almost 10,000 people have visited the page since Kevin's death and left more than 200 messages detailing their recollections of Kevin, along with several pictures.

Eric also said his brother had taught him much about life, especially recently.

"He grew up so quickly in the last few months," Eric said. "It was like he knew he was on a mission and he wanted to leave everyone in peace and take care of everything."

He talked of the way Kevin never worried about the small things, like "studying for an exam." The congregation laughed through tears while listening to Eric speak of his little brother.

He listed the things people will miss most about Kevin. For the women, he said, it was "the gorgeous looks" including his "wonderful smile, even though it was sneaky."

For his teammates, it was his constant strive for perfection. For his roommates, his penchant for cleaning up after them and the way he cut his own hair and did it better than any barber ever could.

Eric struggled when he reached his own fondest memories of Kevin.

"His sarcasm, his stubbornness, how he could always annoy me and get under my skin," he said. ". . . he was the only one who could do it anytime . . . and he enjoyed it."

"We love you, Kev, and we know you'll be watching over us as that star up in the sky. I love you, man," Eric Dare said.

Scott sang R. Kelly's "The World's Greatest" during the procession to the place of committal.

Sounds of loud crying filled the church, as people stood to embrace loved ones.

Several people stood and stared at the pictures of Kevin on the altar.

One showed him with his brother.

The other, taken during the Penn Relays, is a picture of him crossing over the bar with blue sky in the background, looking down at the soft landing below, as if it were a low cloud in the sky.