Q&A with Mamaroneck HS athletic director Bari Suman
LARCHMONT, N.Y. — A Q&A with Bari Suman who is the athletic director at Mamaroneck High School.
What are you looking forward to this Fall season of 2022?
Bari Suman: This fall season is exciting because hopefully we will continue to move off of Covid and the fear that school athletics, activities, events, etc. could be shut down again. The class of 2022 did a great job of role modeling for all the other classes to respect and appreciate the opportunities allowed during Covid and come out to support friends, classmates play and participate in all school events.
All of the fall teams last year were so successful and many of the teams have experienced players returning on varsity teams to play again this year. The other thing that is so exciting about this year is this senior class of 2023. The group has put a lot of work into their sports participation and have so much spirit. There is a nice support of each other across the entire grade at all sporting events. That high level of support for all programs does not happen every year. Getting people to come out and cheer for their friends will make the year fun!!
I see that you started a cost-free strength and conditioning program this summer. Tell us about it and how it’s going?
Suman: The cost-free training program has been something the coaches and I have talked about for years. Our community is so diverse, which is something that makes us unique and proud as a community, but can divide us too when it comes to opportunities and access for all. We saw over time, just like the reading programs the district was putting in place, a “summer slide” was happening with athletes.
The athletes trained all year and, depending what job they worked or if they could pay to play on a travel team, summer development could be limited. We saw some students who could participate in many programs, and some could not do any. The strength program was developed with the idea, anyone can become a better (you fill in the sport) player if they were better athletes. Better athletes train to be bigger, faster, stronger, and more flexible. What a great way to get athletes from all sports to push each other to work harder and get better.
The program is flexible for individual work schedules, offered in the evenings after work and also utilizes some of our most valuable resources, the turf field, fitness center and our amazing varsity coaches. There are over 150 athletes signed up but about 1/4 to 1/3 participate each night. The feedback of those who attend has been positive. Athletes who are putting in time over the summer will hopefully see the efforts translate into 2022-23 school year success.
Who and what inspires you in your work?
Suman: Student athletes inspire my work the most. Trying to get kids to support each other and learn life lessons through sports success and failure is the foundation of the work and what is the most important.
The coaches absolutely inspire the work towards bettering our programs. The varsity coaches run year-round programs with only one season positions. The lower-level coaches build the framework for how to be a part of a team, work hard and learn the basics. It is so important to have great coaches who care about athletes as people, their development and improving programs and our coaches are the best around in my opinion.
The board of education leadership and district leadership inspires me to try new things and take chances when it comes to bettering our programs, such as the summer strength and conditioning program.
The MHS administration is also big with inspiration and support. Having Ms. Clain retire is tough, but I am so excited to continue to work with Ms. Carolini-Cannavo, Mr. Washington and new assistant principals, Mr. Alonge and Ms. Martinez.
What is your favorite part about being the MHS Athletic Director?
Suman: The absolute best part of the day is getting to go out on to the fields, courts and other sports venues to watch the athletes practice, play and compete. Growth, success and failure are all part of the process. It is a pleasure getting the opportunity to see things happen in sports, that you know will influence our students as athletes now but will also impact them as adults and contributors to society later. “Once a tiger, always a tiger!”
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