Injuries can be a common occurrence in high school sports, which is why the athletic trainers are so important in the process of getting athletes back to doing what they love. Athletic trainers Kyndall Font, Evan Poer and Christine Hardee not only help athletes with injuries, but also teach students about the profession.

As part of the athletic training program, students have the option to take an athletic training class their freshman year, and can continue it through senior year with the classes getting more advanced each year.

“This curriculum provides a hands-on learning experience, allowing student athletic training aides to actively assist in the daily care of athletes and support essential tasks,” Font said. “Through this immersive approach, students gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of the field of athletic training.”

Senior Chloe Jones said being in the athletic training program gave her the opportunity for new experiences, such as going to an athletic training workshop at Texas Christian University and more.

“I’ve loved getting to go all over the state, because I did wrestling the past two years, and I’ve never been out of the state up until last year, and I got to go to Arkansas with them,” Chloe said. “It lets you build relationships, and it helped me step out of my shell and comfort zone.”

Poer said he found a passion for athletic training because of being an athlete throughout his childhood and also being interested in science.

“I like to know how things work,” Poer said. “I like to work with tools, and I was really fascinated with the human body and the resilience that it has to heal itself.”

Not only do the athletic trainers teach students the necessities of being a trainer, but they also provide a source of inspiration and comfort.

“They’re the best,” senior Jamie Drake said. “You can talk to them about anything, like any of your problems. They’re really good people.”

Font said her lifelong passion for medicine and sports and being able to help students through that is what makes athletic training so rewarding.

“Guiding an injured athlete through the rehabilitation process and watching them put in the effort to return to the sport they love is incredibly fulfilling,” she said. “It’s moments like those that remind me why I’m so passionate about this profession.”