By: Jon Haslam <[email protected]>

With his newly acquired team shoes along with his other greyhound basketball apparel, junior Michael Benson hits the hardwood well before practice has even begun. Benson, along with the other two managers, said he finds himself very committed to the work he does.

“Being a team manager is hard work, but it’s rewarding,” Benson said. “I really wasn’t sure how to get involved, but I knew I wanted to do something. It was pretty easy for me because (Head Coach) Mark Galloway came directly to me and offered me the job.”

This is Benson’s second year of managing, and he said he plans to stick to it through his coming years much like Phil Byers, head manager and senior.

“I have been managing since seventh grade at Carmel Junior High, so I already have six years of experience under my belt,” Byers said. “I plan to continue throughout college and I have actually been in contact with Purdue about it.”

“We have had several managers go onto college and continue working with a basketball program, such as John Boss, IU, and Chad Harmon, Evansville,” Galloway said.

Galloway said managers are recognized as both lettering athletes and important members of the team itself. He is currently looking for two managers that are interested in practice and game video along with a statistician.

Managers are responsible for a variety of tasks that the team needs done; whether it’s preparing the jerseys or setting up the basketballs in anticipation for practice, the managers are always doing something.

“The easiest way to put it is that we are problem solvers. A coach or a player will come to us with a problem, and it’s expected of us to fix it,” Byers said.

There is a lot more work that goes into managing than one would think. On top of their everyday tasks, they have made benches for locker rooms and Byers has even installed a stereo system in the locker room for the players.

While the basketball team’s season hasn’t officially begun yet the players and managers for that matter are already hard at work.

Along with managers, team trainers play a key role in a team’s success, Hope Amos, varsity football trainer and junior, said.

“It is my favorite part of the day, and I love being around the guys who have become my best friends,” Amos said. “As a trainer I am in charge of taping knees, ankles, and stuff like that; along with getting ice for athletes and even rehab.”

Amos got involved her freshman year when her brother was a player for the team, and being a trainer stuck with her. She said she plans to continue through her senior year.

“I honestly wouldn’t even consider the idea of not helping the team in my last year of high school,” Amos said.

Galloway said, “There are so many things that they do for our program.  One good manager is as valuable as five good basketball players.  Our managers are more than just ‘water boys.’ Each of our managers has a specific role on our team.”