Behind the game-winning catch or interception isn’t just the football players that we have known for years: it’s also the team’s newest managers. Although they may not be charging the field or scoring touchdowns, they still play a pivotal role in helping the team function and keep up with the quick, intense pace of the season.
Most of their duties equate to what a standard team manager does but on a more profound level, given the size of the team and complexity of football.
Senior Mia O’Reilly had served as a team manager for years prior, alongside WHS graduate Priscilla Dayon, and continued to this year, except this time garnering more people to join the squad.
O’Reilly said, “I think it’s really fun to be on the field and see everything first-hand and close up. Being in that environment gives you a different perspective than when you’re on the bleachers watching it from far away.”
The football team is lucky to not only have O’Reilly, but also senior Harper Tarry, and juniors Lena Denner, Sophie Sabato and Anna Ziegler all helping out.
On paper, the roles of the team managers are quite significant. Tarry takes care of offensive statistics, including touchdowns, rushing yards and passing yards, while O’Reilly handles the defensive statistics, which involve recording tackles, interceptions, forced fumbles, sacks and other forms of defensive highlights. Sabato is at the helm of special teams and keeps record of field goals, punts and return yards.
Tarry said, “Having the stats taken care of is huge because before, coach [Matthew] Andzel would have to do all the stats after coaching the entire game. Having us do that takes a lot of stress off of him and lets him focus solely on the game.”
One of the aspects of the team manager role – newly implemented this year – has been flying a drone around the field to record all of the teams’ plays. The footage compiled by the drone in practices and games is then viewed by the team to see where they can improve.
Senior football player Blake Manson said, “The fact that they use a drone is so helpful because the film we get from it is used to go back and watch, which helps us get better. It’s really good to get the bird’s-eye view because you can see how the plays work and finish out, whether that’s for offense or defense.”
Denner has taken the lead on this after joining the managers this year by controlling the operations of the drone so the other managers can concentrate on keeping statistics.
Off the field, the managers have also created and maintained the team’s TikTok account, @bluewestfield, where you can find the players participating in various social media trends and displaying a little bit more of who they are beyond the gridiron.
“I think the account shows that the players are humans with personalities and aren’t just a source of entertainment when you watch games,” said Tarry. “When people see them having fun and making jokes, it makes them want to go see them and shows a more fun side of the sport.”
Being around football, however, extends far beyond the fall season for the managers. For the majority of their high school careers, all five girls have played on the flag-football team that takes place in the spring.
Tarry said, “I just love football. Being able to be around it and to find my place within the sport that is male-dominated is something I love doing.”
Stepping into the role as team managers and taking on all of the things they are tasked with requires that the group attend several practices and all games, both home and away. With this, much of their time is devoted to football season, showcasing the squad’s commitment and dedication to the team.
“They are important to the team because they constantly help out with whatever the football players and coaches don’t have time to do. They volunteer their time, which not a lot of people would do,” Manson said.
Undoubtedly, the team managers are a core piece of the team’s success and part of the foundation that holds the group together. They will be on the sidelines helping out the team as they play next on Sept. 26 against Bridgewater-Raritan at home.
