Team Manager Recognition

Running, dribbling, passing, spiking and serving are all aspects that one might suspect members of a sports team to practice. But, this fall, some team members hit the books. Juniors Ian Lizardo and Aaron Avant were the statisticians for the Girls’ Volleyball Teams. Senior Erin Macomber was the statistician for the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team. Freshman Jean-Baptiste Goriou was the statistician for the Boys’ Junior Varsity Soccer Team. These four students played an important role in the success of their teams without even stepping into a game.

Ian Lizardo and Aaron Avant are strong supporters of the Lady Rams Volleyball Team. Ian and Aaron keep an eye out for the minor, but im- portant, details in the game. Aaron keeps track of points for and against La Salle, as well as timeouts and rallies. Ian records each block, kill, ace, set, good or bad pass, and error throughout each game. Their responsibilities do not end there. These guys attend the girls practice daily to help out with the small things. Things like organizing drills, demonstrating techniques, and preparing equipment for practice can easily go unnoticed, but they make all the difference. In an interview, Ian remarked, “We shag the balls to enhance the drill...if that counts.” Aaron and Ian are like an ex- tra set of hands to help out with the simple stuff so players can make the most of practice each day. When asked about her role on the team, Erin listed a series of seemingly mundane tasks. Erin is responsible for recording things like shots on goal, saves by the goalkeeper, corner kicks, pen- alties, substitutions, as wells as goals for and against the Rams. However, she is more than a statistician. In the words of Captain Jonah Uribe,

she is the one who brings laughter and happiness during a stressful season.” On game day, Erin makes a point of getting each play- er excited to play. As gametime approaches, Erin walks to the field or rides the bus with the team. During this time she makes sure that each player is prepared for the challenges they will face. Erin genuinely cares about every member of the team, and, to celebrate a win or to deal with a loss, Erin often bakes the team delicacies to enjoy after games.

Like Ian and Aaron, Jean-Baptiste prac- ticed each day with the Junior Varsity boys’ soccer team. But, when it came time for games, Jean- Baptiste had duties similar to Erin Macomber. He recorded shots on goal, saves by the goalkeeper, corner kicks, penalties, substitutions, as wells as goals for and against the Rams. Additionally, Jean- Baptiste helped the team by preparing equipment for practice. Jean-Baptiste was just like any other player on the squad, but he didn’t get to dress for games. Despite this, he brought a positive attitude to practice everyday.

It is easy for team managers and statisticians to go unnoticed, but it is all the more im- portant that these individuals are respected and appreciated. People like Aaron, Erin, Ian, and Jean -Baptiste give an edge to each team. They allow players to focus on the game and bring steady and consistent support throughout the season.