Giving back to Leesville
When you think about volunteering opportunities in school, a very specific set of options come to mind: helping teachers and other general classroom assistance are usually what you’d imagine.
These tasks, while beneficial to teachers, are typically considered mundane and entirely unnecessary. Jobs such as these often discourage students from volunteering at all since many are unaware that other volunteering positions within school even exist. The last place most would look for a volunteering opportunity is in high school athletics — not to participate as an athlete but to become a team manager.
For Emma Polansky and Brenda Rizzuto, this was precisely the position they never knew they wanted. Polansky and Rizzuto are freshman this year but began managing for Leesville’s wrestling team during their eighth grade year.
These tasks, while beneficial to teachers, are typically considered mundane and entirely unnecessary. Jobs such as these often discourage students from volunteering at all since many are unaware that other volunteering positions within school even exist. The last place most would look for a volunteering opportunity is in high school athletics — not to participate as an athlete but to become a team manager.
For Emma Polansky and Brenda Rizzuto, this was precisely the position they never knew they wanted. Polansky and Rizzuto are freshman this year but began managing for Leesville’s wrestling team during their eighth grade year.
“I started managing for the team last year, when my brother became really involved with the team,” said Polansky. “I really enjoyed watching the sport and wanted to understand it more, so I learned how to keep score and started getting involved with the team.”
Rizzuto tells a similar story, as both Polansky and herself have brothers on the team.
The two now have various responsibilities as a part of the team, including keeping match scores, recording statistics, and running match clocks. However, Polansky and Rizzuto didn’t pick up on all of these skills on their own. The pair learned how to perform their duties from the previous wrestling manager, Alex Blanke. Initially, the two acted as assistants of sorts to Blanke, until she ultimately gave up the position to focus on her own academics and athletics. This sort of volunteering has a deeper meaning due to it generational nature; it is a learned position, passed down from one person to the next. Now, the two proudly bear the mantle of official wrestling managers.
Rizzuto tells a similar story, as both Polansky and herself have brothers on the team.
The two now have various responsibilities as a part of the team, including keeping match scores, recording statistics, and running match clocks. However, Polansky and Rizzuto didn’t pick up on all of these skills on their own. The pair learned how to perform their duties from the previous wrestling manager, Alex Blanke. Initially, the two acted as assistants of sorts to Blanke, until she ultimately gave up the position to focus on her own academics and athletics. This sort of volunteering has a deeper meaning due to it generational nature; it is a learned position, passed down from one person to the next. Now, the two proudly bear the mantle of official wrestling managers.
“After more than a year with the team, it almost feels like they’re family now,” said Rizzuto. “And I’ve made some really close friends at the tournaments we get to go to every weekend.”
As members of the team, Polansky and Rizzuto travel to wrestling tournaments all over the state—often times on the athletic bus with the team. Their service for the team has taken them from Raleigh, to Charlotte, to Wilmington, and just about everywhere in between. “It’s always chaotic and crazy, but it’s almost always a lot of fun hanging out with the guys,” said Rizzuto.
Traveling with the team has led to lasting friendships with both wrestlers from Leesville and other schools; forging relationships with people they would have never met otherwise. The only real sacrifice: countless hours and weekends spent donating their time.
As members of the team, Polansky and Rizzuto travel to wrestling tournaments all over the state—often times on the athletic bus with the team. Their service for the team has taken them from Raleigh, to Charlotte, to Wilmington, and just about everywhere in between. “It’s always chaotic and crazy, but it’s almost always a lot of fun hanging out with the guys,” said Rizzuto.
Traveling with the team has led to lasting friendships with both wrestlers from Leesville and other schools; forging relationships with people they would have never met otherwise. The only real sacrifice: countless hours and weekends spent donating their time.
“They’re giving up their time to keep score, maintain statistics, and support you guys [the wrestlers],” said Jason Wyss, the head coach of Leesville’s wrestling team. “It would be a struggle without them keeping stats. Accurate stats is a good thing to have, and super important in motivating the wrestlers.”
Despite the duo forfeiting immeasurable amounts of their time for the team, volunteer hours were never their source of motivation—or even on their mind at all. “When I first started, I didn’t even know volunteer hours were on the table,” said Polansky.
“For them, I feel like they did it for the team,” said Wyss. “For later on in life, they’ve definitely earned their volunteer hours—I know that’s important for college—but for now I just feel like they’re just motivated to see you guys wrestle.” The familial bond Polansky and Rizzuto have formed with the team is easily one of the greatest takeaways from their managing careers, and typically what drives them to continue this position.
Despite the duo forfeiting immeasurable amounts of their time for the team, volunteer hours were never their source of motivation—or even on their mind at all. “When I first started, I didn’t even know volunteer hours were on the table,” said Polansky.
“For them, I feel like they did it for the team,” said Wyss. “For later on in life, they’ve definitely earned their volunteer hours—I know that’s important for college—but for now I just feel like they’re just motivated to see you guys wrestle.” The familial bond Polansky and Rizzuto have formed with the team is easily one of the greatest takeaways from their managing careers, and typically what drives them to continue this position.
Though this is only their second year managing, the two have carved out a bit of a reputation for themselves in the managing community. At many tournaments, the two are often recognized and asked to head scoring tables and assist the under equipped managing staff of certain schools. With all of that said, this is only the beginning for this pair.
“I get to do this with one of my best friends, Brenda Rizzuto, and the team is really like a family and I really enjoy being part of it,” said Polansky. “I’ve already watched graduating class go through the program, and I’d really like to see more guys go through it. You make friends you wouldn’t make otherwise—I’d love to continue managing.”
While a bit unorthodox and time consuming, managing for a sports team is a fulfilling and unique volunteering experience. It provides an opportunity to travel all over the state, learn an entirely new set of skills(sports statistics/analytics, team management, etc.), and forge lifelong friendships—in addition to simply gaining volunteer hours. If you are looking for a long term; but rewarding; volunteer position to fulfill your community service requirements, look no further than your high school wrestling team.
“I get to do this with one of my best friends, Brenda Rizzuto, and the team is really like a family and I really enjoy being part of it,” said Polansky. “I’ve already watched graduating class go through the program, and I’d really like to see more guys go through it. You make friends you wouldn’t make otherwise—I’d love to continue managing.”
While a bit unorthodox and time consuming, managing for a sports team is a fulfilling and unique volunteering experience. It provides an opportunity to travel all over the state, learn an entirely new set of skills(sports statistics/analytics, team management, etc.), and forge lifelong friendships—in addition to simply gaining volunteer hours. If you are looking for a long term; but rewarding; volunteer position to fulfill your community service requirements, look no further than your high school wrestling team.
Photos used by permission of Emma Polansky
Giving back to the community
Scroll through following Exposure photo story to learn about Leesville junior Harper Bennett's volunteer story.
Volunteering for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
For students, there are hundreds of volunteer opportunities in and outside of school. Ainsley Duke, senior at Leesville, has become heavily involved with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
At the Food Bank, Duke works in the warehouse where her job is to sort certain food into family--sized bags. “ “It’s usually sorting through produce donated by farmers and throwing out the parts that are bad, common things to sort are potatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash,” said Duke. The food bank then distributes the bags to people in need through partners with the food bank such as, food pantries, shelters, and religious organizations. Along with preparing bags of food, Duke also serves as the social media ambassador for the Food Bank. “As a social media ambassador, my tweets about Food Bank events generally reach an audience of about 2,000 people. I’ve been approached by people who told me they participated in a food drive they wouldn’t have known about if they hadn’t seen my tweet about it,” said Duke. Social media is a powerful and efficient outlet for spreading the word about volunteer opportunities and many organizations use it to attract help. Duke can’t help but feel joy when helping those in her community. “Knowing that the work I do with the Food Bank has tangible effects on those who need food makes me proud, and I want others to do the same thing so more people can be helped,” said Duke. With so many individuals seeking some form of assistance from those more fortunate in the community, there are endless opportunities through which students can help. Anyone who is interested in volunteering at the Food Bank can do so Monday through Friday from 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm each day, with an additional time slot at 6pm-8pm on Wednesday’s. Other opportunities such as group volunteering excursions can be organized by contacting, [email protected]. Once involved with the food bank Duke high suggests becoming a social media ambassador. “To become a Social Media Ambassador, which is an experience I highly recommend, visit www.foodbankcenc.org/sma,” said Duke. At the food bank volunteers have the power to help eliminate hunger in North Carolina, whether you choose to volunteer or donate anything helps take one step closer towards ending hunger in the community. |
Photos used by permission of Ainsley Duke
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