Some players contribute to their teams by scoring goals or hitting homeruns, but others make their impact riding the bench. You don’t need to be fast or skilled to lead a team; in many cases the heart of the team lies on the sidelines where benchwarmers dream of actually playing. Take, for example, Margaux, a junior who lives and breathes lacrosse. As a benchwarmer she brings character and determination to the team. Although she is a valuable and enthusiastic addition to he team, she does not aspire to leave the bench because she finds the bench too “relaxing, and [she] has no desire to play because [she] gets too tired by simply watching the game.”
Lacrosse senior Chase has also found ways to do more than just warm the bench. He provides his teammates with “the best H2O in town for maximum hydration.” Chase’s best technique for riling up the crowd is sending a mass text telling all the fans to cheer louder. Senior b-baller Katy took a different approach when she rode the bench earlier in her career, bringing “energy, enthusiasm, and a whole lotta swagger” to the bench to help get her team fired up.
Competition is fierce among the benchwarmers over who is going to play next. Benchwarmers have to think outside the box to get into the game. Chase says that fellow benchie Stewart would be chosen over Chase due to his “impressive celeries” (celebrations). Despite the fact that she has told the coaches she “doesn’t want to go in” coaches continue to beg Margaux to enter the game because according to Margaux she thinks the coaches believe “[she’s] better than everybody else.” But Margaux feels her talents are better suited on the bench so she allows her fellow benchwarmers to take her spot on the field.
Being a benchwarmer can be exhausting and with that comes the need to replenish. Instead of the usual in-game fuel such as Gatorade or energy bars, benchwarmers tend to reach for more indulging snacks. When facing lesser competition, Chase reaches for the chips and guac (preferably from Chipotle); however when facing stiffer opponents he sustains his energy with Pumpfuel. Margaux takes the same route with her personal favorite sport drinks: Slimfast and Hatorade. Sport drinks might sustain most athletes, but, as most know, protein is necessary for athletes. With the convenience of the holiday season, Katy packs leftover turkey dinner to keep the wheels turnin’.
In the world of sports there is a wide variety of benchwarmers. Some grow out of it and move on to be the stars, like Katy, while others seem to be content with their spot on bench; Margaux boasts of this by being able to smile about running a 21 minute mile. Either way, benchwarmers are vital to a team’s success—a team without a benchwarmer is like a Tuesday without tenders.
