Rose Bialk/The Mossy Log
As part of its numerous varsity sports programs, Lewis & Clark hosts over 150 separate home competitions every academic year. These events are often cause for campus-wide celebration and pride, as the community comes together to root for the River Otters, the college’s talented athletes that represent LC. While those competing often get the spotlight, attention must be brought to the effort of the students working in the background that make these games possible — the nearly 200 students working with Game Day Operations.
Students who work for Game Day Operations are hired by the athletics department to help with operating home games. The role is managed by Sharon Sexton, senior associate athletic director. Although it is only one of her many responsibilities, she is quite fond of coordinating this student position. She sees it essential for running events at LC, and loves interacting with the student employees.
“It would be impossible to run all of our events without student support,” Sexton said. “What I love most about this part of what I do is getting to know and interact with so many students that I likely wouldn’t get to know otherwise. We have amazing students at Lewis & Clark.”
Although the position comes with a lot of responsibility, it is one that any student can apply for and succeed in. Sexton described the job as “extremely flexible” and a “good supplemental campus job” because of how shifts are assigned. Workers fill out forms every couple weeks, providing their availability. Sexton takes their availability and the college’s home event schedule to coordinate and assign students to games they will assist with.
Beyond being a good side job, the work they do is what enables games to occur in the first place. The role’s overall responsibility is simple, but incredibly helpful to the production of home games. Joshua Chavez ’27, a current Game Day Operations employee and student lead, stated it best.
“Our job is to make sure that the game is running smoothly for everybody. For the players, the coaches, the referees, the fans, everybody,” Chavez said.
To carry out that responsibility, students take on a variety of tasks. Before the match starts, they set up essential equipment for the players. Ray Ramirez ’29 recounted his work setting up soccer games in the Fall 2025 semester. He spent his shifts placing the goals on each end of the field, along with benches, tents and a medical table for the teams playing. He also prepared the venue for fans, lowering the seats in Griswold Stadium so that the audience could appreciate the game. After the competition space is ready, student workers continue to help operate the event during the game.
Some of this work is logistical — Game Day Operations support the athletics department by scanning tickets, monitoring doors and assisting in managing parking lots. Other work during the game is involved with the competition itself. Ramirez stated that he collected out-of-bounds balls during soccer games. Chavez explained that during basketball games, employees help by mopping the court. Game Day Operations workers also help reset the venue to its original state after the game has ended, keeping the area clean and ready for the next sporting event.
While all students working in Game Day Operations help with previously mentioned tasks, some have additional responsibilities. These are student leads, like Chavez. Student leads are employees that are recognized by the athletics department for their hard work and knowledge in the role. They have the responsibility of overseeing other student employees and providing them the support they need to succeed.
Chavez walked The Mossy Log through his average day as a student lead, using a basketball game as an example. He arrives 15 minutes before his co-workers and sets up the small things. He ensures that players have towels for after their game, that the mops used to clean the court during the game are ready, and that his co-workers have chairs to sit in while supporting the game.
After this, Chavez facilitates regular setup. He explains to his peers what their responsibilities are for the day and lends a hand with big tasks like setting up the bleachers in Pamplin Sports Center. During the game, the student lead is on the sidelines, overseeing the group and standing in for fellow students when they need to take breaks. After the game, he helps his assigned Game Day Operations team return the space to its original state and dismisses them after they have finished their work and the bleachers, benches and screens are put back in place. His day ends how it started, he takes time to make sure the little details are back in place and that equipment, like used mops, are put back correctly.
It is clear that without these student workers, preparing and running the many games LC hosts would be impossible. The next time you are at a sporting event, try to spot the Game Day Operations students who make it possible and thank them for their work.
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