Go to any high school basketball game, and it’s easy to recognize how the players become the main focal point.

But how many of us realize the importance of game managers?

They are the ones that play an integral part in making the games happen.

At Catasauqua, seniors Connor Booth, Aaron “Meatloaf” Kelshaw and Travis Sterner recently completed their basketball manager duties under head coach Eric Snyder and director of managerial operations Tom Reap.

Booth served for three years, and it was an easy transition under Snyder.

“Coach Snyder encouraged me to become a manager since I couldn’t play,” said Booth. “He has been there for me since then. I have looked up to Coach Snyder as a role model over my three years.“

Even though he isn’t on the floor, Booth feels his presence through tasks like filling water cups and taking care of the ball racks.

“I’ve been part of the team for three years,” he said. “I look at it in that way. I put my time in with the team and make the commitment. I did whatever I could to help them.”

Booth will always remember Derek Troxell scoring his 1,000th career point.

“That was a big moment for me,” he stated. “It was great to see Derek do it, and it was great hanging out with that team. Those guys were special.”

Booth also was a football manager for five years. Although he did manage to be on the field for a special moment.

“The team let me suit up and score a touchdown in eighth grade,” he recalled. “They stopped the game and let me score. It was special being with those guys after school. All of it was a lot of fun, and I felt that I did my part.”

Booth believes managers can get easily overlooked.

“I feel that they do,” he stressed. “We don’t get enough credit for it, and we can get overlooked. But we love what we do.”

After graduation, Booth plans to pursue a career in the supply chain industry. He does anticipate attending college in the future.

As for working with Reap, Booth enjoyed his time.

“He was all right,” said Booth. “(Reap) is a good and fair man.”

Kelshaw served as a manager for three years, beginning in his sophomore year. He also was a member of the baseball team for four years.

“Mr. Snyder asked me if I wanted to help out,” stated Kelshaw. “I was glad to be able to do what I could. There are always a lot of things to do before a game to get the team and the court ready.

“It definitely kept me busy.”

Kelshaw remembered his sophomore year as his most memorable moments, as he was part of a postseason run.

“It was the first time that they got back to the playoffs in a while,” said Kelshaw. “That year was a lot of fun. I was happy with what I did to help them out.

“There are a lot of things that we have to take care of that most people don’t see. I was grateful to do what I could.”

Like Booth, Kelshaw sometimes feels underappreciated.

“Most people don’t realize what we do,” he said. “The players and the coaches are always very appreciative of what we did.”

With a striking resemblance to the late rock singer Meatloaf, Kelshaw has rolled with his nickname.

“That’s something I will likely share for life,” he said. “It is how people know me, and it doesn’t bother me. I think it’s great.”

Kelshaw also acknowledged a “secret” handshake with assistant coach James Snyder.

“We had the same one for the year,” he said. “It shows how much of a family we really are, and how each of us trust each other.”

“Meatloaf” also cherished the times with Reap.

“He was great,” said Kelshaw. “He always pushed us to be our best.”

Kelshaw plans to attend Lehigh County Community College (LCCC) in the fall and begin his pursuit of an education degree to eventually become a high school English teacher. He would welcome the chance to continue his managerial career in the winter.

“I would love to come back and help out,” he said. “I know I would still enjoy it. I want to be a teacher and would like to coach as well.”

Sterner began as a manager in his freshman year, but his trek took a different path.

“In eighth grade, I was asked if I would be interested in filming the games,” he said. “I thought it was a good opportunity to get involved and where it could take me.

“I thought it was fun. It was work as I always had to keep an eye on the game. But I could get different angles and shoot from different areas. It kept my attention, and I really felt like I was contributing to the team.”

Like his peers, Sterner realized the significance of the position.

“It is a lot more than standing around the team huddle,” he said. “Sometimes people overlook what we do. It is the prep work and the double-checking of everything. There is more to this than people think.”

Sterner, who played soccer and baseball for three years before a torn ACL cut short his senior year, acknowledged the sense of chemistry among the team.

“This was a great group, and you got to know the coaches and players on a personal level,” he said. “There was a special bond that you became part of, and you played your part in it.”

Sterner plans to attend LCCC in the fall and pursue a career in criminal justice. He felt a comfort zone with Snyder and Reap.

“Whenever you had a problem, you could go to him (Snyder),” he said. “He was there to do anything to help me out.

“With Reap, it was a blast,” he noted. “With him, you get to respect all of the aspects of helping the team. You also see how the whole season comes together.”

Snyder was appreciative of his manager’s contributions.

“They were outstanding and invaluable,” said the veteran coach. “We needed them every single day.

“Each of them made the coaches’ and players’ lives a lot easier. Every team needs good ones, and we were fortunate.”