Girls Tennis Manager Ethan Mann helping the team with a drill. Photo courtesy of Colleen Olson.

At East, athletes are often the focus, but behind the scenes, team managers play an equally important role in the success of their teams. From organizing equipment to providing emotional support, sports managers help create an environment where athletes will thrive.

Ethan Mann manages the girls’ tennis team at East. He describes his leadership style as one centered around inclusivity and positivity. This highlights the positive energy he strives to bring to the team, which is essential for athletes to feel comfortable and supported, both on and off the court.

 “My leadership style is to include everyone, make everyone feel welcome, and maintain good vibes only!” Mann said. “I believe that conflicts should be solved by the players. For example, when our third singles player, Abby, had a conflict during her match, I let her work it out and she won the match.” 

Mann believes in empowering athletes to solve their own conflicts, allowing them to grow through their experiences. By stepping back and giving athletes the space to resolve issues on their own, he helps them build confidence and resilience. 

One of the most significant impacts a team manager can have is making sure that all athletes feel like they belong. Mann emphasizes the importance of building on both strengths and weaknesses, which, in turn, leads to stronger team bonds and improved  performance.

For Mann, being a team manager is more than just a job, it’s a passion and his enthusiasm for his role shows just how much a team manager can positively impact the experience of athletes.

“I have always loved helping people and playing tennis, so I get to do two of my favorite things while people play and learn from their mistakes,”  Mann said. “Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but we build on those weaknesses to make better bonds and better skills.”

Head coach of the boys baseball team at East, Brian Schaeffer shares the importance of team managers and describes how managers reduce the workload for both coaches and players.

“Managers help to make sure that things run smoothly during practice. This allows coaches to focus on specific drills or skills that we are working on. They provide feedback and give insight into certain areas for growth and help with identifying things to work on for both the coaches and players.” Schaeffer said.

“In our 2023 season, our 2 managers were crucial in helping our team work together, provide feedback and help the coaches with ideas and possible decisions. They were crucial in our team culture. In return, we ended up winning our programs first regional and sectional in school history.”

His insight emphasizes how important managers are to the success and organization of a team and further proves the impact of sports managers and their contribution to the success of a team.

 On the other hand, not every sport has a team manager. Elleanna Barczack, a track athlete, explains that her team at East has so many athletes, that the coaching staff takes on most of the organizational responsibilities.

 “Since the girls’ track team at East has so many athletes, we have a lot of coaches, so team managers are not as needed,” Barczack said.

 However, Barczack believes that not having a manager has had its downsides.

 “Not having a team manager caused the team to be less connected than we could have been, I feel like some things aren’t for coaches or athletes so having a manager would have been beneficial”  Braczak said.

Barczack’s experience shows that while coaches are helpful to an athlete’s success, the presence of a team manager can create a stronger sense of unity. Without a designated manager to keep everyone on the same page, athletes may miss out on the sense of togetherness that Mann works hard to maintain for his tennis team.

In conclusion, team managers like Ethan Mann make a significant impact on athletes by creating an inclusive and supportive environment. 

Managers help build stronger team connections and allow athletes to focus on improving their skills. Coach Schaeffer’s experience reinforces this point, as he credits managers with making critical contributions that directly impact the team’s success.

While not every team may have a manager, the role is undoubtedly valuable in both individual and team growth.

Written by Sophomore Michelle Wannah. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.