(From left) Rachel Proudman ’19, Alex Amine ’19, and Anya Wareck ’19 manage Boys’ Varsity Soccer this season. Photo by Jenny Guo/The Choate News
For every one of Choate’s various varsity sports teams, there are a few students who help run the show from behind the scenes: the managers. Whether it’s on the soccer field, in the hockey rink, on the cross-country course, or in the pool, managers are a key part of every varsity sports program in their own unique ways.
The responsibilities of a manager often vary from sport to sport. Tippa Chan ’19, who manages Boys’ Varsity Water Polo, said, “My job consists of getting ice from the X before every practice, running the clock during home games, and writing stats during games.” However, the responsibilities of managers will sometimes transcend gathering equipment and tracking each player’s statistics. Asher Kassinove ’19, who has managed Boys’ Varsity Hockey for three years, is responsible for musical entertainment during games, and he even takes part in pre-game rituals.
Though the jobs and responsibilities of managers may be similar, the reasons they manage are very different. Some, like Chan, manage a sport in order to improve their understanding of the game. “I decided to manage because I play water polo in the spring, so I’m familiar with the sport,” she said. “By managing, I can learn more about the sport and further understand the game.” Others manage a varsity sport to spend more time with friends. Kassinove began managing after his prefect, Craig Uyeno ’17, who was the Boys’ Varsity Hockey captain at the time, brought up the opportunity with him. “Following the conversation, I went and talked to some of the players who lived in the dorm with me and asked what it would be like,” he said. “Their response was a simple, ‘You get to spend more time with us.’”
Since managers work closely with the team itself, they are often able to witness the team grow and improve as the season progresses. Alex Du ’21, who manages Boys’ Varsity Cross-Country, said, “My favorite thing about managing a sport is watching the runners improve every week and see how they really benefit from all the hard work they put in during practices.”
Managing can even help create meaningful bonds and life-long friendships. “The guys have made me feel that I am part of the team in my own special way,” Du said. “I still talk to many of the alumni from the team, and some are my best friends, and that bond would not have been created without being the manager.”
Though managers usually don’t participate in the physically grueling aspects of their sports, managing can prove to be challenging in its own way. One of the biggest challenges managers face is the time commitment that comes with managing a varsity sport. Managers typically have to go to every practice as well as both home and away games with their team. “As a senior, time management and making sure I get all my work done is my biggest
challenge as a manager,” Chan said. “However, the coaches are super understanding and let me take days off when I’m super stressed.”
Managing a varsity sport can be one of the most rewarding athletic experiences at Choate. “I think that managing is a valuable experience,” Du said. “It’s unique in the sense that you are able to see athletes improve each week, and it’s cool that you can view the sport in a different lens.”
