Walk into any high school sporting event and you’ll see evidence that they’ve been there; whether you realize it or not, the teams’ managers have been working behind the scenes to make sure practices and events run smoothly.
For sports like basketball, the managers work with the coach and players during practices and games.
“During practices, managers usually run the clock, get water and keep score,” said girls’ basketball head coach Haley Peckinpaugh. “During games, they’re in charge of mostly getting water and anything else the players need.”
Being a manager is different for each sport but they do very similar things to help the team’s athletes. Wrestling Manager Nevaeh Fauce says
“During meets and matches I keep the score book and make sure the wrestlers are where they need to be,” said wrestling manager Nevaeh Fauce. “I always make sure my coaches have everything they need.”
Boys’ basketball manager Jailen Carson makes sure that the team’s jerseys have no wrinkles or marks, gets water prepared and folds anything that needs to be folded.
Senior Aramaea Fivecoate is also a manager for the boys’ basketball team. While she has given up a lot of free time to work with the team, she has had fun doing it.
“It is a commitment and is not meant for goofing off,” she said. “However, it’s also very rewarding and fun.”
Every manager has a different opinion about what they believe is the best part of managing sports, but they all agree: the memories made are a huge part of the experience.
“I think the best part of being a manager are the memories and friendships that come from managing and the things you learn about the sports,” said said wrestling manager Izzy DeWeese.
Being a part of the team is another perk of being a manager.
“I think that being a manager is not only about being a part of the team or just helping them, but it has taught me how to work as a team and how to support each other,” said girls’ basketball manager Cha Cha Santipanarux.
No matter how different the managers’ roles are, they all agree that being a part of the team is what keeps them happy and motivated.
