Team managers are a background extension of the efforts put in by coaches and players.
Kramer Gardner is one of the four managers for the boys basketball team.
He, along with Gunnar Olsen, pick up the team’s warm up jerseys, make sure the players have cups of water when they come off the court and open the locker room doors before halftime for the team meeting.
The other two managers for the boys team are seniors Rachel Hamaty and Molly Peltier.
Their main job is to film the games for the team to watch afterwards for improvement.
Gardner chose to become the basketball manager because his friends convinced him to do it. “It gives me something to do and something to be a part of,” Gardner said.
In addition to being the manager, Gardner also participates in track during the spring. “At track we [the throwers] grill out a lot and being manager helps me be organized when getting people refreshments,” Gardner said.
Gardner played basketball until eighth grade, so the sport was familiar to him.
On away-game days, the managers ride the bus with the team. “It’s pretty fun. We have nice talks and play games with Pat[rick Codute],” Gardner said.
For home games, the male managers hang out in the locker room with the rest of the team and prepare for the game.
The managers are helpful to head coach Barry Wohler. “It’s nice. They bring good energy and a positive attitude to the team,” Wohler said. “They get stuff organized and help out with stuff I don’t have time to do.”
Many players on the team enjoy having the managers as a part of the team. “They are very helpful; I love having them,” senior Chandler Jacoby said.
Most managers are considered part of the team– Wohler even allows his managers to letter. Therefore, being a dedicated manager pays off.
Gardner considers himself a very committed manager. “I have only missed two games in the past two years,” Gardner said.
Many other sports around the school have managers to help them during the season, as well.
The girls basketball team has juniors Zach Wagner and Alex Parke for managers. Wagner and Parke, like the boys basketball managers, are in charge of filming the games.
On top of filming the games, the two managers help out with the spotlight teams. Spotlight teams are the youth basketball teams who, for one game, come into the locker room before the game, are announced with the players and get to scrimmage their teammates at halftime.
The gender differences did not come in the way of Wagner and Parke feeling a part of the team. “I still feel a part of the team,” said Wagner. “I don’t dress up on dress-up days, but I’m social with all the girls.”
Teddy Spencer is the boys hockey team manager. “He is a devoted Orono Alumni,” senior Peter Makarov said. Spencer fills the teams water bottles before and during the game. Spencer is a graduated senior who came back to support and help the team.
Managers are an extended part to a team and though they may not put in the work on the court, they do off the court.
