Sports Medicine at Eagle High is a class full of dedicated students and one dedicated teacher, Niklaus Brunker. Teacher Tara Kishpaugh teaches “Health Professions” which is the first prerequisite in the Sports Medicine pathway, she also helps in the clinic as an assistant to Brunker. The role that they play in making each Eagle High sports team functioning is vital. Students spend hours after school, as well as in school dedicated to being at school sports games, practices and everything in between. Whether an athlete needs ankle tape or an ultrasound, sports medicine does it all.
The class starts with the prerequisite “Health Professions” and then progresses each year to “Sports Med II” and “Sports Med III”. Students who want to pursue a career in being an athletic trainer or physical therapist typically enjoy being in these classes because of all the hands-on experience. Students get to learn tapes, wraps, how to apply ice bags and take SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, plan) notes which documents the story of how an athlete got hurt, when it happened and what the rehabilitation process will be.
“I enjoy learning new tapes and getting the hands-on experience in clinic,” said senior Chloe Franks.
The average routine for a sports medicine III student typically starts right after the last bell of the day rings. Each student has a keycard to clock in to get their required 60 hours of clinical or game experience. Then, to get the clinic running, students restock taping tables, check athletes into the system, bring water out to practices and games and so much more.
“I love getting to meet new people every day and be a part of an athlete’s rehabilitation process to get them back to playing their sport,” said senior Aspen Guldin.
While some students may learn that being an athletic trainer is not for them, the experience they get in working at the Eagle High clinic is unbeatable.
