ElenaBurt

In most Marian sports, there are team managers for every team, from freshman to varsity. One might wonder why they are there, what they do, and how much of their time is committed to the team. 

Junior Cadence Porter has been on the wrestling, track and cross-country teams. With all of her experience in Marian athletics, she said, “Team managers are very important.” In Porter’s perspective, they “take on responsibilities that teammates and coaches are unable to fulfill.” 

Team managers fulfill the duties of attending the practices they can while doing what they and the coaches think is best for the team. Every sports team has different tasks for the team managers to accomplish. Porter said, “for wrestling, [their] responsibilities include taking film and supporting each teammate.” She said, “Although that may not seem like an important task, the role is significant to the team morale and film.”

Senior Ava Hayes was a team manager for the junior varsity soccer team last season. She said, “I decided to be a T.M. because my good friends Annie and Alayna have had soccer-filled schedules their whole lives, and I figured it would be a fun way to learn more about the sport while spending time with them.” 

Hayes said she enjoyed the job because of her chemistry with the team. “The whole team was very energetic and easy to get along with,” she said. “They always put me and each other in a good mood.” Players and coaches benefit from a boosted morale by these managers. 

Hayes supported the team by happily bringing gear to games, helping the coach with drills and she even hosted some team bonding nights at her home. She also “went to every practice and game I could, which was every day I didn’t have work,” Hayes said.

Hayes reflected on her season spent with the soccer team by saying, “I liked everything about the job…it was a really interesting experience. The girls on the team are highly motivated, happy, team players who want the best for the team, but also to have fun. They incorporate fun games and laughs into everything they do, making it hard to not want to go back!”

Cross country coach Greg Golka said, “Team managers are vital. They often take care of the logistics for things that happen during practices and games. Without team managers, the coaches would have to take the time away from their team to do that.” 

For this winter sports season, the team managers are: juniors Kelsey Asselin, Kelsey Bragg, Magdelynn Frankenfield, Emiyah Pettis, seniors Jaeda Lawson and Callie Verzal for basketball; sophomore Jacqueline Juan for wrestling; sophomore Claire Newton and junior Grace Tynan for swimming.