The game doesn’t just begin once the whistle blows. East Meck’s sports team couldn’t function without coaches, managers and cheerleaders. Their roles often go overlooked by the crowd, but the teams feel their impact during every practice and game.

East’s wrestling team is one of the largest teams at the school, and it requires more leadership than a few coaches. Managers, like senior Cailyn Darrington, help their athletes stay physically and mentally ready for meets.

“One of my main duties as a manager is to make sure that things keep rolling along even when havoc may start to break loose,” Darrington said.

Being manager comes with a level of authority that can be uncomfortable- students have to essentially be the boss of their peers.

“It was awkward at first, but now it’s much easier. [The wrestlers] respect me and never treat me as less than just because I don’t wrestle,” Darrington said. “Even though I don’t get on the mat with them, I still do everything I possibly can to make sure the wrestlers feel good enough to get out there and win.”

Certain sports, such as east’s women’s and men’s volleyball teams, incorporate their own players to help during games. The teams require statistical tracking, which must be done in real time. The job is done with an iPad and is stressful for some, but men’s volleyball player Simon Ephraim enjoys it. “You learn a lot while doing [stats] because you’re noting everything that happens. You can see where people are making the majority of their mistakes and can implement that to help the team improve,” Ephraim said.

Doing other jobs like line judging and keeping track of substitutions can help players stay involved with their team. Lily Sayer is a sophomore on the JV team who often helps out during varsity games. “It bring the team closer together if everyone is actively a part of the game they’re watching by helping out or being very supportive on the sidelines,” Sayer said. Despite the benefits of game jobs, some players find it difficult to fall their energy for the next game if their own game didn’t go well. “It can be tough sometimes transitioning from playing to working a game, especially if the one you played in was bad or long,” Sayer said.

Ephraim views it differently. “It’s definitely easier to go from playing to helping because, instead of looking at my mistakes and dwelling on them, I can give myself time to decompress.”

Nyla Wells has been a member of the Gold Squad, East’s varsity cheerleaders, for four years. Gold Squad lasts two seasons: they cheer for football in the fall and basketball in the winter. East doesn’t always shine when it comes to sports, but the cheerleaders find a way to keep the crowd hyped. “It’s been proven by our football team that the more confident and loud the school is, the better they play,” Wells said. Cheer requires constant energy and positivity, which can be difficult to maintain during long game days or tough losses. Cheerleaders have to be loud, perform stunts and choreography over a several-hour span, all while keeping a smile on their face. rather than see it as a taxing role, Wells chooses to view it as her contribution to school spirit. “Being a cheerleader gives me a way to help our school teams win,” wells said. “Regardless of the score, I can always count on my teammates to lighten the mood and still hype up the crowd.”

Although it may seem tedious to some, helping a team succeed from the sidelines is at the core of every East manager, coach, teammate and cheerleader. So, the next time you cheer on East Meck from the stands, save some applause for the ones behind the bench.