Sports manager earns praise and TV recongition

JIYOON CHOI Co-Editor-in-Chief

Senior Nicholas Gandara is in his third year as the batboy for the varsity baseball team and his first as the manager for the varsity girls basketball team.

His role helping out the two sports teams earned him a visit from Cal-Hi Sports and wider fame online and on TV.

Paraeducator Bob Holmes, who for two decades as announcer has been called the Voice of the Bruins, tipped the studio about Gandar’s contributions, which was featured on the Cal-Hi YouTube channel and was also aired on TV. Holmes said he was feeling “a little selfish” when he contacted Robert Bronstein at Cal-Hi Sports for the feature of Gandara.

“It’s about inclusion of our special ed community, and the acceptance of both the special ed community and, I don’t mean to separate the two, our mainstream population,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing, and I thought that’s what really needed to be shared.”

Last semester, reporter Ivan Garcia came to Branham to interview Gandara during the girl’s basketball practice. Garcia interviewed Gandara, Holmes, basketball players and basketball coach and special education aide Nicholas Moreno.

“I’ll be happy that my face is gonna be on national television,” Gandara said.

Gandara said he enjoys helping the baseball team by taking them back to the dugout and has fun assisting Coach Moreno and other staff and athletes during practice.

Gandara has been exposed to different sports since he was young, which makes his jobs more comfortable and enjoyable.

“I used to play soccer and baseball when I was a kid, and I used to play basketball with my brother,” Gandara said. “That’s why I’m the team manager and the bat boy for the good baseball and basketball team.”

At Holmes’ suggestion, Gandara became the manager for the girl’s basketball team. Holmes told the Coach Moreno that Gandara was a “kid who just loves sports” and a “community guy.”

Moreno was open to Holmes’ proposal and the process of Gandara becoming the manager was easy. The coach didn’t have to convince Gandara’s parents because Gandara straightforwardly said “I’m going to be manager for the girls basketball team.”

As the team manager, Gandara not only helps restock supplies, but he is also improving his social skills.

“I definitely think it’s opening him up,” Moreno said. “It’s getting him to be more sociable.”

With the feature on Cal-Hi Sports and his role as the bat boy and the team manager, Gandara is is bringing attention to how programs can include more special education students.

“Nothing gets to where it should be quickly,” he said. “In other words, it’s not a light switch. But I think we’re moving that direction.”