Sandy Mamary knows the vision she first started formulating for Westfield athletics when she decided in 2004 to one day try for the post of heading the program has changed. She notes it is not her fault, external forces have changed her outlook on the department.
"It's changed from a couple of years ago, because of the economy," she said. "I want to maintain this program intact. My biggest challenge is keeping everything intact."
The new supervisor of athletics said the downturn in the economy and the budget crisis gripping public schools statewide has become her number one priority as she outlines her vision. Mamary said she will need to focus on budgets before she does anything else in her job, along with finding new revenue sources.
Mamary said Westfield athletics has pluses going for it on the revenue side. She noted the work the Boosters do in fundraising, along with the individual fundraising programs many of the sports teams have implemented, but she would like to find new sources of revenue. Look for ways to boost the fundraising programs already in place to maintain the current program.
"If that means I have to friend raise, I will," Mamary said.
Mamary comes into the role as budgets for the athletic program have been shrinking. During this year's budget crisis, the Board of Education was forced to propose cutting eighth grade athletics and intramural sports as part of the initial response to Gov. Chris Christie's decision to slash Westfield's state school aid by $4.22 million. The programs were later restored – after intense parent lobbying – by implementing a new student activity fee. The fee requires athletics to pay $125 a year to participate in sports.
"Throughout the state, people have gone no cutting to eighth or ninth grade sports," Mamary said of the recent trend.
In light of the parental response, Mamary said she will be focusing on maintaining these programs and trying to expand where possible.
She said she has a few wish list items that she admits will cost more money upfront but will become important revenue generating items in the future for the district. One items Mamary has on her dream list, a second turf field in town.
"Things like that can generate money," she said. "If we are worried about economics, we need to think about ways to generate money, instead of asking people for money."
Outside of budgets and finance, Mamary has a few others things on her agenda for the department. Topping her immediate priority list is hiring a replacement for her old position as head athletic trainer. She said she wants to have someone in place who will continue her previous focus on prevention, along with treating injuries as they develop.
Mamary speaks passionately on the subject of prevention, citing the work the teams have done in implementing prevention programs. These have included the wrestling and track teams summer practice schedules along with a program, Mamary has implemented for football players and others in August.
After the football practice schedule starts up next month, players will partake in a recent tradition, which will involve sitting in tubs of ice water while eating ice pops. Mamary said the lowering of the body temperature will help prevent future injuries and help the players.
"We have had the lowest percentage of injuries in the past three years," she said.
One other area that Mamary said she intends on focusing on is promoting the products of Westfield athletics. She said many Blue Devils go on to collegiate careers at top schools, she wants to have people hear more about these players, in addition to what they are doing now.
Outside of these areas, Mamary said there are some other items on her agenda but she wants to keep them quiet for now.
"I have dreams that I will keep tight right now," she said.
Editor's Note: This is the second in a two part series on Sandy Mamary.
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