“Our managers are such a big help to daily operations,” Kijima said. Hosei Kijima, one of the team captains, expressed that the student managers are assets to the team. They’re always saying thank you and helping us when they can.” “When it comes to the coaches and players, they’re very grateful…the players are always thanking us, and it’s really nice to hear from them. “I mean, nobody really thinks about the managers,” Machado said. While each manager said that they do not think many Wake Forest students know about their work with the team, they each expressed that they feel recognized by the players and coaches. Some of them are my roommates, so it’s a great experience hanging out with them after practices and games and also being able to bond with them at work.” With the managers, I’m pretty close to most of them. “I’ve been able to call some of them my friends and hang out after practice or after any game, as well. “As time has gone by, I’ve gotten closer to the players of my age who are currently seniors or juniors,” Guevara said. Guevara, who has worked consistently for the team since his sophomore year, explained that his friendships with the players and other managers have grown over time. It’s just a whole group of 30 people that I can geek out about soccer with.” Then, I get to talk to all of them about professional soccer, while none of my other friends at Wake Forest follow professional soccer. He continued: “I’m constantly learning from players and coaches just by watching. “I’ve always had an interest in it, and being able to work with some of the best college athletes in soccer in the country is pretty cool.” “Throughout my life up until the end of high school, I played soccer,” Humphrey said. Some majors require early morning classes and others require late afternoon classes, so you have to work around that.”ĭespite these challenges, Machado and Humphrey agreed that working with each other and the team is rewarding. “I have to work a lot with other people’s schedules,” Guevara said. He explained that alongside scheduling managers to practices and games, he communicates with the coaches regarding uniforms and equipment. In addition to these responsibilities, Guevara’s role as head manager adds an administrative element to his job. I think that there is just a lot of pressure, and that would be the main challenge.” In games, the filming is super important, so can watch it back. ![]() You need the drills to be set up correctly, or it will go awry. “In practice, you need the clock to be working so that can time the drills properly. “There is some pressure because you need everything to go right,” Thompson said. Thompson expressed that the most significant challenge of his job is ensuring that each drill is set up and the equipment works properly during every practice and game. According to Humphrey, he spends an average of 8-10 hours per week working with the team. ![]() After recording the game, the managers account for all the gear, treat the players’ jerseys and wash the players’ socks. During home games, four to five managers prepare warm-ups and set up cameras two hours before the game begins. They arrive at the field 45 minutes before the players to set up drills and pump soccer balls. In a normal week, the managers work in teams of two to run practice. ![]() ![]() Their responsibilities include setting up for practice, transitioning between drills, filming games, sorting gear and occasionally traveling with the team. Each week, they work behind the scenes to ensure each practice and game runs smoothly. But if the players or the coaches had to do the work that we do, they wouldn’t have enough time to focus on the game and the job they are trying to do.”įausnaught is one of the Wake Forest men’s soccer team’s five student managers, alongside senior Manny Guevara, senior Ethan Humphrey, junior Nico Machado and sophomore Tyler Thompson. “You’re definitely doing the dirty work and working behind the scenes. “It’s not the coolest job to have,” Fausnaught said. For junior Tyler Fausnaught, many of the student managers’ not-so-glamorous responsibilities, such as treating grass stains on players’ jerseys, are what make them vital to collegiate athletic teams.
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