The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
KEEPING THEM FIT
South student trainers contribute to football team’s success
Friday night high school football is often the highlight of many sports fans during fall.
Running the ball down the field, interceptions, touchdowns, tackles and the sound of helmets crunching together can not only bring about a rush of adrenaline for both players and spectators but also result in injuries.
“Basically, we are with them 24/7. We are here for practices and football games. If they are on the field then so are we.” — Student trainer Tania Wheeler
Most of the time the injuries are mild.
Applying ice and a quick wrap of the injured area by a student side/trainer can often get the player right back out on the field to finish the game.
Often times student aides/trainers like Tania Wheeler and Kelly Coffey are key to keeping South High School’s football players fit and ready for those games.
Tania, a senior at South High, and Kelly, a junior at the school, are both members of the WilloughbyEastlake City Schools’ Sports Medicine Program.
They spend their afternoons tending to the football team under the supervision of Renee DeSalvo, an athletic trainer with Lake Health.
The student aides/trainers who are certified in basic first aid, CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator, tend to injuries and ensure the players have adequate water during practice and games.
“Basically, we are with them 24/7,” Tania said. “We are here for practices and football games. If they are on the field then so are we. We do physical therapy with them and tape their ankles and their wrist and hands. If they need ice we wrap that on them.
“Basically, we are the ones administering first aid during practice or a game.”
Kelly pointed out “We help them in any way, even if they forget something. We go get it for them real quick. We are there to make things flow better.”
Tania and Kelly, along with other student aides and trainers, are typically on the field before the players.
They arrive first to prepare for practice or games by carting out the first aid supplies and coolers full of ice and water to the field and make sure the team’s water bottles are all full.
They also help prepare the players prior to play be administering physical therapy and wrapping injuries.
“They need us 24/7. If we weren’t here, they would die ,” Tania said with a laugh. “We help with helmets, their gear, everything.”
For Tania, in addition to being an asset to the team, her favorite part of being a student aide/trainer is the Friday night games and being on the field with the boys, helping them when they need it.
For Kelly it’s about helping the boys as well.
“I like being there and helping any way I can,” Kelly said. “Friday night football games is what we prepare for and what they practice for and we get to be there to watch it.”
Both Tania and Kelly are looking at careers in medicine after graduation, and feel this experience can only benefit them.
Tania is looking at becoming a nurse or a nurse midwife while Kelly is currently taking classes at Lakeland Community College in addition to attending south wants to be a nurse.
To be eligible to be an aide/trainer, the students must be passing at least five classes, have the medical and first aid certifications, be at a minimum of two practices a week and attend every football game.
Kelly adds to that list by saying a student aide/ trainer should also be caring, respectful and hardworking.