For UVM’s varsity teams, the difference between seamless play and game-time disaster is an underground operation in the maze of campus’ athletic facilities.
The equipment and laundry rooms mean that players can focus on the game, not what they’re wearing. Game jerseys and practice wear cycle through industrial washers and dryers, and storage is stocked with gear and materials for on-site repairs.
If a jersey rips or numbers start to peel, an emergency sewing station and machine for sealing patches is ready for quick modifications by the employees. Only those beyond fixing are replaced, and backups are on hand for gametime.
Two juniors, Jeremiah Masterson and Ethan Marsha, are the student employees behind the scenes ensuring that athletes have what they need to perform at a Division I level.
Masterson, a mechanical engineering major from Brattleboro, Vt., works about 10 hours a week, while Marsha, a wildlife biology major from Chelsea, Vt., puts in closer to 20. Masterson has been on the job for two years, and Marsha for three.
“We’re just kinda hanging out, doing some laundry,” Marsha said.
The storage room is a complex of neatly organized sections, each belonging to a different team. For lacrosse, there’s no shortage of extra sticks, which seem to have particularly short lifespans in rough practices and games.
Though much of the day-to-day work falls to student employees, a full-time equipment manager oversees inventory, orders and team-specific needs.
Their manager sees to it that fresh uniforms, properly fitted cleats and last-minute replacements are lined up for game days. The role requires coordination with coaches, quick problem-solving and a keen eye for detail.
“People kinda just walk in here and they’re like, ‘Hey! I need shoes or shorts’,” Marsha said with a laugh.
Players don’t take their jerseys home; instead, laundry staff deliver them to locker rooms before games and pick them up afterward. Athletes and coaches often make visits to the equipment rooms too, sometimes with pressing needs.
“They’re perpetually losing their stuff or it just breaks,” Masterson said.
Despite the constant stream of laundry and gear requests, the job isn’t all work and no play.
“We keep the vibes high, you know?” Masterson added.
