By: Allison Skinner (10)

Bea Baker has been the girls basketball manager for the last two years. During her freshman year, she tried out for the team and didn’t make it. 

“Coach Wiggans came up to me and asked if I was willing to manage instead,” Baker said. “He knew he could depend on me because I was also the football manager, which he also coaches for,” she added. 

On game day, Baker has a very important role. Once the team arrives at the game,  Baker must fill the scorebook with our players' names and ask the opposing team’s managers to fill out their players’ names as well. Once the game starts, she keeps track of both teams stats, including points, fouls, timeouts, and what quarter each player plays. 

Her main responsibilities before and during the games include setting up the scorebook, helping the announcers, and learning the starters for both teams. During the game, she keeps track of the stats, and after the game, she adds up all the points for each player. Baker says on average she spends about 8 hours a week with the team. She usually doesn’t attend practices, but is present at every game. Baker also mentioned that staying flexible with the busy game schedule is the hardest part about being a manager. 

There are lots of things most people don’t realize managers do.

 “Something some people may not realize is that if there isn’t a trainer around, the players may ask me to help them,” Baker stated. 

All the work Baker does makes it worth it to her because one day she hopes to be an athletic trainer, so getting the experience to be around a lot of different athletes. 

“In my time of being a manager, I have learned more about basketball in general and now the sport is easier for me to understand and comprehend,” Baker said. 

Being a manager has taught Baker to prioritize tasks, stay organized, and improve her time management skills.