lindsaymuse

Marian has a long-standing tradition of excellence, particularly in the field of athletics. While most people only focus on a current sport’s season, there is often so much more that goes on behind the scenes.

Take, for example, the setup of a gym or field, the water coolers and ice buckets, or the athletic trainers, student or otherwise, who are present on standby.

“The student volunteer trainers are an extension of me. Not only do they learn how to tape ankles and bandages blisters, but they are present at sport games and events and they can get in contact with me if an athlete gets hurt. They know that if an athlete sprains an ankle, they should get the ice bucket ready because the athlete will be put into it immediately,” Athletic Trainer Mrs. Melissa Brusnahan said.

These individuals and their duties often get overshadowed by the game until an athlete in considerable pain hunts them down in order to obtain some form of relief. However, student volunteer trainers can be found in training room after school, by the practice fields or courts, or setting up for games in the gym. They have knowledge and sometimes even experience of sports injuries, and they work for the benefits of athletes.

The athletic training program at Marian has existed for more than 21 years, courtesy of Brusnahan. As the head trainer, Brusnahan has been looking for girls who are interested in both sports and medicine to aid her in providing physical relief to athletes during games and practices. “I want to be able to train girls to help take care of their Marian teammates,” Brusnahan said.

For some girls, this program is an opportunity to learn the basics of medicine while still being a part of sports and athletics.

“After my knee injury, I was done with sports, yet I still wanted a part in the world of athletics,” senior Madalyn McKeone said.

The athletic training program currently has four girls who volunteer to keep the program going by working with Brusnahan: Elsie Stormberg, McKeone, Sophie Knoblauch and Kaitlyn Baysa. These volunteer trainers are not enough to keep the training room staffed and operating through a fall season with four sports in session, that often take place at the same time but at different locations.

Brusnahan is looking for new recruits, especially sophomores, who are willing to work with her for a couple of years. These girls have to be willing to get their hands dirty learning to wrap shoulders, ankles, and knees, and taping up blisters on runners’ feet. They must have basic first-aid knowledge and a willingness to work hard to cater to the athletes.

Junior Kaitlyn Baysa started volunteering in the student athletic training program when she was a sophomore. After sustaining a significant concussion and spraining her ankle multiple times, she decided that she wanted to participate in the program.

Her advice to other students thinking about wanting to join the program: “Do it because you learn a of cool and weird stuff about the body, and it could spark an interest in some type of career.”