While sports teams are often known for their successes, a key aspect of every team at Edina High School often remains unnoticed: managers. One of these key-figures is senior Jack Mrachek who is vital to the logistics of Edina’s alpine teams. Managing one of these teams can be an ever-important task. While many managers’ duties are not common knowledge, Mrachek opened up about his journey and experience in his first year as the manager of the Edina Boys’ and Girls’ Alpine Ski teams. 

Mrachek did not have a detailed past in skiing and was introduced to managing the team because he is friends with some of the current team captains. With a connection on the team, he was able to introduce himself to the coach and express his desire to be a manager. “I contacted the coach, and it was pretty straightforward from there. He let me become a manager because they had lost their previous manager last year,” Mrachek said. With the apparent lack of an application process, the process of becoming a manger was simply knowing someone on the team. “It’s more about connections than actually applying,” Mrachek said.  

The biggest role a manager adopts is helping out with the team’s needs in practices and events. Specifically for Alpine Ski, most duties revolve around preparing the team for a race or filming the skiers. Since most races begin during the day, this often entails missing part of school. “On race days we will hand out bibs [and] lift tickets, [and] sometimes we will time people, and write it down—whatever is going on that race day,” Mrachek said. When they are not preparing for a race, manager duties consist of filming skiers and doing busy work. 

Becoming a manager has its perks: from team gear, the possibility of lettering, and missing school; however, lessons and friendships are the most valuable outcome of serving in a managerial position. “[I feel I have gained more] friendships and responsibility. Having to balance out my schedule was the biggest change because usually in the winter, after I quit hockey, I would do my own thing. But now I am doing something more involved,” Mrachek said. While managerial tasks differ on each team, the overall importance of their responsibilities remains constant across every team.