By Pat Delaney
They’re not just handing out water. At Patrick County High School, student athletic trainers are essential members of the sports community—supporting athletes through injuries, hydration, and recovery, all while gaining hands-on experience.
“A lot of times folks only see them at the games, but they’re here all week, working with our kids at practice, before practice, after practice, trying to make sure any little bumps or bruises they have along the way, we’re getting that addressed and taken care of,” said Cougar head football coach David Morrison.
That support continues on the sidelines, where students work closely with Sports Medicine athletic trainer and certified strength and conditioning coach, Gail Browning.
“I want my kids in the huddle,” said Browning. While ensuring the players are hydrated, they also help out by making eye contact with the players. “Is there someone glazy? Are they zoned out because they missed catching something or are they zoned out because they’ve got a head injury? I want us to be an active part of the timeout in hydration, so we can snap them out mentally and make sure that they’re okay physically.”
Should a player appear injured, the students are right there with Browning, assisting, learning, and later, helping with the rehabilitation process. “I want them to be able to observe and see how I’m treating the injuries. They also get to observe a lot of rehab. I’ve got a wrestler and a basketball player that were both injured out a season and we’re doing their rehab after school now. So, the kids are able to see everything from prevention taping before a game to an injury at a game, to rehab after school.”
For the students, it all begins in the classroom, where Browning teaches Sports Medicine 1 and 2 as part of the school’s C.T.E. curriculum.
“Sports Med 1 covers a lot of the anatomy stuff. So, it’s a lot of the anatomy — muscular, bones, as far as digestive system and nutrition, so we have to cover a wide gamut in there,” said Browning. “Sports Med 2 is more of the N.A.S.M. (National Academy of Sports Medicine) personal trainer. So, to be a certified athletic trainer, you have to get your master’s. To be a personal trainer, after you complete high school, you can complete the curriculum from N.A.S.M. and you can sit for the certification exam.”
As part of the curriculum, Browning requires the students to do 20 hours of observations outside the classroom, giving them exposure to real situations. “I just believe you’ve got to see it.”
By assisting during games and practices, the students work toward the required 20 hours. Two students, Avery Foley and Jasmine Reynolds, help at every football practice, and their work doesn’t go unnoticed. “They’re with me every practice, every game,” said Browning, “and they’ll earn a letter just as though they were playing a sport because they’re putting in those hours. We couldn’t make it without them.”
The classes and experience the students gain can help propel them into a career in the medical or training fields. “Jasmine got very interested in the medical field, so she’s in the C.N.A. program with Ms. Gammons, then will take Sports Med 2 with me. She’ll graduate high school, hopefully as a C.N.A. with her personal trainer certification.”
One former Cougar, Gonzalo Vargas, has returned to Patrick County with his bachelor’s degree from Radford, and is working with and observing Browning to gain the hours needed to go on and pursue his master’s degree.
For some students, time spent in the program can be the gateway to a future career, or a great experience that can serve them well in other ways. For all the hard work they put in, they are greatly appreciated by the coaches and the players they help.
“These guys are awesome at what they do,” said head football coach David Morrison. “Our trainers are paramount to the success we have in the football program.”
