years ago somoene did hand the jerseys out before the trip and you are correct that causes too many complications like who forgot theirs, who didnt pay etc.. then they went to the system of handing them out at the race to make sure everyone that got one actually raced!
i think one year ahead of time they made announcements of team nj meeting later at such and such time ( i know its hectic to get a time thats good for everyone with practice sched so crazy) at the spot where the nj banner was posted( did we even have the banner up this yr? was there a nj section?) i think they had a 2 hr window to pick up the jerseys and maybe 1-2 kids who got there late picked theirs up the next day..back then they had over 70 riders from nj. i remember as this yr it was cotton jerseys and our first year going. i think linda luden did it if my memory serves me correctly. let me tell you those jerseys were picked up on time or there was hell to pay. i wouldnt want to have to do it the next day… haha parents ( for the little guys) and riders have to be responsible for something and stop whining. and back then we had parents state t-shirts to boot to hand out as well ( they matched the jerseys and were all paid for in advance) i had to fill in for her just checking off the list while she went back to her room for maybe an hr..believe me its a nightmare!!!
how did she do it alone? ORGANIZATION ahead of time and something like this is not easy to do esp dumped on someone the last minute.