Team managers assist coaches, become part of team family

Mia Hawkins, Editor-in-Chief
October 25, 2018

Mia Hawkins
COACH’S ORDERS: Juniors Kyla Martinsen and Sofia Zerza work together  during their block 8 to create the rooming list for the varsity boys basketball tournament that will take place in Santa Barbara. Tasks like this are standard for the team managers. “Coach will write stuff up for us, and then we basically type them into a computer and print them out,” Zerza said. Many team managers hope to pursue athletic management in the future. “I would love to be an administrative assistant for basketball in college,” Martinsen said. “I have always been a huge basketball fan. This job has helped me learn all the technical sides of the sport.”

Mater Dei’s dozens of records and championships are proof that student athletes have some of the best coaches and support systems out there. But behind the scenes, team managers, which are students, help coaches make sure athletes stay on their game.

“I’m honestly here to keep the girls motivated,” said senior Hayley Skonieczny, a junior varsity girls volleyball team manager. “…I assisted my head coach in a lot of different aspects. During games, during practice, during tournaments.”

While keeping the team players in line and motivated is key, team managers are also in charge of keeping score, organizing documents, and putting together uniforms. Managers also attend all games, tournaments, and other events with the teams.

“I was here in the summer. I had credit recovery classes to take too, so I would [do my manager duties] in the morning, go to my classes, and then [manage] again,” said senior Allegra Mistitano, a varsity boys basketball team manager. “That’s one thing: It’s a time commitment.”

All that time never goes to waste. According to the managers, time spent with the team leads to strong friendships that may not have been formed otherwise.

“…at first you could tell they don’t want anything to do with me cause I’m an upperclassmen,” Skonieczny said. “I’m a senior they think I’m just either bossing them around … and then by the end of the season you just see – even in the middle of the season – you see how much the relationship grows between you and the players.”

Mia Hawkins
TYPE IT UP: Junior Sofia Zerza joined varsity boys basketball as team manager after quitting her sport. This marks her first year as a team manager. “Kyla actually told me about team managers and how it was a thing here.” said Zerza. “Because the two other managers were seniors we thought this would be a good opportunity to just do it.”

The job of team manager is a job for most, but it’s more than that for junior Kyla Martinsen. Martinsen was injured while cheering at a football game during her sophomore year. Her injuries proved to be so severe in her neck and leg that she hasn’t been able to cheer since. However, since becoming a varsity boys basketball manager, she’s been able to put her athletic skills and interests to use in a new way.

“Coach McKnight and the team gave me a new school sport family and helped me out of a very dark time,” Martinsen said. “I will forever be grateful to Coach McKnight for his kindness and giving me a new team to be a part of.”