Hard to Manage?

Managers – an often overlooked part of the sports world – share their experiences in team managing

Story by Sarah Schwaller | Staff Member Photos by Kaylee Lary | Editor in Chief

St. Teresa’s sports are not possible without a crucial group of people — managers. Managers have long been a part of STA sports; however, they are often under appreciated, especially considering the amount of work they do behind the scenes. Two managers, senior Katherine Judge and junior Sara Gibson, share their experiences with the managing world, their roles and how they grow in STA spirit and appreciation when managing.

For the past two years, Judge has been a varsity basketball manager. She began managing after she stopped playing basketball. She still wanted to be involved in STA athletics — just not necessarily playing in them — and managing offered the perfect opportunity for her to do that. Judge finds that the commitment level between management and playing the sport is the exact same, if not more for managing.

“You have to make sure things are done ahead of time,” Judge said. “It’s just a little less physically exhausting.”

Additionally, for Judge, managing offers a heightened sense of school spirit and passion for the sport. Judge reflected on her experiences, especially those from before and during the basketball games.

Gibson works very hard as a manager, and these relationships are merely a reward for that. She outlined her duties for both sports, and each practice, she has a multitude of responsibilities that help things run smoothly. This could include anything from attendance to clean up, but her work is something she finds very fulfilling and fun.

“I think it’s nice to have something that I can be recognized for and just something to be a part of,” Gibson said.

Gibson has played both of the sports she manages, so she is able to easily compare and contrast the commitment level between managing and playing. She, like Judge, finds that the commitment level is comparable. Gibson, similarly to athletes, also has to adjust her after school activities, such as work, to accommodate to the sports schedule.

Gibson encourages those who may not want to play sports to manage as well.

Managers work hard to make sure everything in the athletics world runs well, and athletes appreciate them greatly for all that they do.

“You just kind of get to have fun on the bench and do your own little cheer things,” she said. “For free throws, we stand on the benches and hold our spirit fingers up.”

The relationships created in basketball range from the players to the coaches, and are often strengthened through the time spent together. Judge feels that she has grown closer to players, but even closer to the coaches. Coach Kiera Hardy is one of the relationships that Judge especially values.

“I’d say that with the coaches [relationships] have definitely strengthened because they aren’t trying to coach you, they are just your friend,” Judge Said. “Hardy and I bicker all the time, ‘with love,’ as Hardy says. With the players, I wouldn’t say it has weakened,

Gibson is a manager for varsity softball and varsity soccer and she also loves the relationships that managing creates for her.

“You get to be friends with everybody [on the team], and you get the team aspect without being on the team, which is really fun,” Gibson said. “And I also think that it makes the school year much more fun; it goes by so quickly and there’s always something to look forward to which is really nice.”

Home Game vs. Shawnee Mission @ 4:30pm

March 23 25

Home game @ 4:30pm vs. Lee’s Summit North

& FIELD

Soccer TRACK

Home meet @ vs. Multipe schools

27 Soccer Tournament @ Aquinas vs multiple schools

Athlete of the Issue: Lucy Rouchka

Senior Lucy Rouchka has been dancing since she was three years old, and at STA since her freshman year. Rouchka recounts some of her favorite memeories, one being the trip to Orlando for nationals last month.

“My favorite moment has been being able to travel as a team and going to nationals and being able to spend an entire week together and being proud of our dances, and seeing all of our hard work pay off this year,” Rouchka said.

Roucka added that she is not planning to continue her dance career after graduation, but is grateful for the moments she has gotten to experience because of her time on the dance team.

“Especially with this team, just being able to be around my teammates and seeing how hard they work inspires me to do even better,” Rouchka said. “The feeling of finishing a dance and knowing that you did it well encourages me to keep working.” B