Trainers make difference in athletes’ lives

CRACK! A football player hits his knee against another player’s helmet. With no coach in sight, who do the athletes call for help? The student trainers, of course.

The student training program allows students to gain hands-on experience in the field of sports medicine.

“We’re there to ensure the health and safety of the athletes,” junior trainer Mikayla Garcia said.

The trainers also aide in keeping the athletes healthy and hydrated during practices and games.

“We do a little bit of everything,” Garcia said.

Helping the athletes with their physical needs is also an important duty of the trainers. Athletes rely on them for help with injuries, often receiving electrical muscle stimulation (or stim), a rehabilitative and preventative tool that is essential in athlete recovery.

“They set up our ice baths and stim for us,” varsity soccer player Jordyn Perry said. “They make it a lot easier.”

Though they don’t gain a lot of recognition, student trainers put a lot of time and effort into what they do.

“They are at school before our athletes get there and they leave later than anyone else,” head baseball Coach Andrews said.

The goal of student trainers is to gain experience in the medical field that will help them pursue careers in the future.

“The health of the athlete is the first priority,” Garcia said. “We don’t do it for recognition, we do it because we care about our athletes.”