Sports Med Interns train hard to treat athletes
September 2, 2016
Dr. Miller explains the Sports Medicine program. “This program has had a very big impact on our school as well as (with) the program growing every year,” Miller said.
Sports Medicine is a learning program at OHS that teaches students who are interested in being in the medical field to learn to prevent and treat injuries of our own student athletes, as well as learning of the human body and other injuries that can impact the body.
The Sports Medicine Program provides three progressives throughout the high school years, Introduction to Sports Medicine, Advanced and the Internship. In this course, the teachers provide internships to students who have taken all classes. The interns assist Courtney Woodward, the athletic trainer, to rehabilitate athletes and prevent injuries from happening.
The Principal, Dr. Lynn Miller and the Sports Medicine Instructor as well as the Athletic Director, Chandler Evans both worked together to plan and create a working environment for advisors and trainers to rehabilitate athletes at OHS.
Maegan Dickerson, junior, is an intern for Courtney Woodward, Athletic Trainer. “Advice I would have to give to the incoming freshman would be always do your best,” Dickerson said.
This program started a few years ago with only two sections and four teachers. Within a couple of years they started 12 more sections, meaning they have 14 classes altogether within the program, making Sports Medicine the fastest growing program at OHS.
This program began when the advisors wanted students that were interested in working in the Medical Field to learn and experience what it takes to be an athletic trainer. “The interns are the leaders of this campus and future leaders of the community,” said Dr. Lynn Miller.
“I was certainly excited to meet the new students and interns. I didn’t have any concerns but I did have goals and expectations. I want them to be their best and give their all,” said Jennifer Guerrette, Sports Med teacher.
Kaiya Matteson, senior intern, said sports medicine is a family rather than a class. “I tried out this program and ended up loving it,” Matteson said.
The interns for Woodward, go to rehab early in the morning and stay after school for as long as it takes for every student to get the treatment they need. Before and after school rehab is extremely busy. Most of the time interns are taping, treating athletes injuries and preventing injuries. This school year there are five seniors and fourteen junior interns helping out.
“This program didn’t grow because I as the principal said to go into this course. It grew because the students wanted to take Sports Medicine,” Miller said, “As a result of the content and the teachers, the students took part of this program and created something that everybody else can enjoy.”
“I did not have any concerns or problems when I joined this program. Halfway through my high school years I realized I will never be involved in sports during college. So, I signed up for this program and ended up loving it. The people in this program are like family to me. This is an exceptional class to be a part of, especially if you want to be involved with Sports,” said Kaiya Matteson, senior intern.
