BY KYLEIGH SPRIGLE
The athletic trainers of CCHS are at every single sports game, practice and tournament. They are more than just water girls. The trainers take care of all the athletes at CCHS. They learn about injuries, how to prevent them and what to do in certain emergency situations.
The athletic trainer program is run by teacher and trainer, Valerie Smith. She is in charge of the programs and the seven student trainers. She transferred to CCHS last year and is associated with Memorial Hospital.
“I think [the program] gives students who have an interest in the healthcare field an introduction. Many students that participate with me are athletes both in and out of CCHS,” Smith said. “They [may] have access to an athletic trainer or other healthcare providers, but never see the daily inner workings of actually doing the job [outside of the program].”
Classes like First Aid, Injury Prevention and Anatomy are important for students interested in both the program and the medical field overall to take. Additionally, being a trainer gives students real-life experiences and a good way to practice skills within the health field. The students learn what goes into being a trainer and they get to see whether they enjoy this type of work or not.
“People who are interested in being trainers should take the class[es] Intro to Sports Medicine and First Aid,” athletic trainer Jada Pallagi said. “They are regular classes but it is worth it. It goes alongside the training program. It is a good start.”
“I think [the program] gives students who have an interest in the healthcare field an introduction.”
Athletic trainer and teacher Valerie Smith
Besides the learning portion of the trainer program, the trainers dedicate hours on most days after school to take care of the athletes. They will give up time during the week and on weekends to go to games and practices, even traveling with the teams to tournaments.
“I like being a trainer,” athletic trainer Victoria Orazi said. “I get great hours, and get to experience sports medicine by learning different medical techniques.”
The trainers have many jobs that they do regularly in order to keep the athletes safe and healthy. Some of the tasks that the trainers have to do are as small as getting ice or providing Gatorade and water. Other jobs can be more meticulous, such as caring for different kinds of injuries, major or minor.
“It is hard to choose, but I think the most important thing we do for the team is just being at practices and games,” Pallagi said. “We have to make sure if something goes wrong it can be properly handled.”
Athletes and trainers alike are taught to ice frequently, especially when practicing or playing, resulting in many athletes visiting the trainers daily. Icing is one of the most common things the students trainers do as a part of their roles.
“I get great hours, and get to experience sports medicine by learning different medical techniques.”
Athletic trainer Victoria Orazi
“I think the trainers are really important to have, especially with all [of] the athletes at our school. They’re always prepared with anything you need after a game, whether it’s for injuries or precautionary measures,” softball player Amanda Gettys said. “As an athlete with previous injuries, I go to the trainers quite often and they make sure I’m ready to play, as well as providing me with ice after the game.”
One other main medical technique trainers learn is how to tape. Taping can be used to prevent future injuries, acting as a brace. It can be used after an injury to manage and prevent future damage. Taping is used by both athletes and trainers. So, even if the student trainers do not move into the medical field, they will still have useful information.
Some of the trainers aspire to be in the medical field after high school and college. Participating in the CCHS training program gives them an advantage over others because they have the necessary prior knowledge and experience in sports training.
“After high school, I am really interested in going into sports medicine,” Pallagi said. “So, once I found [out] that our school had a program like this, I was really interested in being a part of it.”
Photo by Anabella Garcia
