Oftentimes, when victorious on the court, field, course, etc., athletes and coaches associated with the win take most if not all of the credit. Although their claim is somewhat true, athletic victories would not be possible without the trainers that keep everything in check. From working in the training room to assisting on the sidelines, the athletic trainers contribute to the overall success of every athlete. Although this is often the job of a professional athletic trainer, the students here also participate in this hands-on, medically preparing opportunity. 

Junior Audrey Balint, in her third year on the team, speaks on the subject.

“I became interested in becoming an athletic trainer early in freshman year, wanting to get hands-on experience in the medical field, although not specifically in physical therapy,” Balint said. 

This internship offered here is not only a chance for students to prepare for getting a job specifically in this field of study, but can also be an opportunity to learn other, more broad skills.

“I’ve learned a lot from this, really. It’s helped me learn how to manage my time, come up with on-the-spot, creative solutions, organizational skills and even simply responsibility,” Balint said.

Another athletic trainer, senior Gracie Tharp, goes on about her role as a trainer and the take-aways she too has obtained from being in the community.

“Being a trainer has taught me so many things that are not only helpful in this field, but also in other aspects of my life. Things ranging from patience with the athletes, moral support, remaining calm in stressful situations, and more,” Tharp said.

According to the student interns, some of the most important things to keep in mind when working with the student athletes is to remain tranquil and put them in a less stressful mindset, so that things run more smoothly. Balint concurs with Tharp’s claims.

“It’s always important to keep things up-beat in the training room and to remain calm and positive to lessen the stress that the athlete is experiencing,” Balint said.

Senior Natalie Mullin, a two-year member of the athletic training team, speaks more about the things that this internship has to offer.

“Not only is this a fun, interactive, and flexible opportunity for students in high school, the skills and experience that you obtain can be easily applied in college,” Mullin said, “Especially if you are looking into this area of specialization, being a part of this club looks really good on a resume and can guide you to a specific career path after high school.”

Athletic training is available for all students and is flexible to all schedules. This year-round opportunity assists athletes of every sport, giving trainers an abundance of experience and keeping competitors competing.