Everyone sees the players on the field during the games, but rarely do people see what goes on in the sidelines. The athletic trainers are the backbone of sports. Seniors Noa Brown, Hayley Price, Lauren Shem and Melina Aguilar have been athletic trainers for four years.
“I want to do something in the medical field when I get older and it’s a good introduction,” Price said. “It is what you make out of it.”
Trainers work just as much inside of school as they do outside of school. They either have fifth or seventh period to help with the teams, and they later help with football practice after school for an extra three hours.
“There’s a lot going on in the program and we put so much time into it,” Aguilar said. “It’s basically a nine to five job.”
Their schedule starts at 6:30 a.m. every day when two of the trainers have morning treatments. After a full week of school, trainers prepare for game days at noon by loading the bus with training equipment.
“Game days are my favorite part because the environment is really fun,” Shem said. “You’re so much more involved and interactive with the athletes.”
For game days, the trainers set up the sidelines with water, Gatorade and any other materials needed and is set up conveniently so they can run on the field during plays to assist the players. Trainers give the players and referees water when the play stops and tape any injuries that occurred.
“Game days are really good, I just love being on the field every Friday night,” Brown said. “Everyone there just wants to talk the whole time, and the coaches want to get to know you.”
The trainers not only help out with football, but they assist with all sports on campus. They’re all assigned to football, and they get to choose another sport to help out with for the second semester.
“Boys basketball is my favorite sport to be a trainer for,” Aguilar said. “The boys are just like my brothers, so it’s just a really good experience.”
These four girls have been a part of this program since they started high school and they’ve all built connections because of it. They have grown throughout these years due to their experiences of being a trainer and being able to help the student athletes here.
“I’m most proud of these experiences that so many other teens won’t ever get to experience or even see,” Brown said. “I have so much more hands-on skills and knowledge now.”
