While this is not the usual article about athletics, no one can discount the sports med (SM) team’s importance at Anderson. The program is run by Coaches Ngo and Busby who work tirelessly to keep our athletes healthy and safe both on the sidelines and from the training room. Students are able to apply to be trainers in the program and learn from the two amazing head coaches.
The program is so special partly because of all of the learning experiences that come with it. Students learn about nutrition, health, anatomy, and training during class time, and apply these skills on the field/court. A large part of SM is understanding how to wrap different injuries and what to do for each one, whether it’s ice, warm pack, elevate, etc. These skills are critical to know, especially because so many of the trainers are athletes themselves. They are able to utilize this knowledge in their day-to-day lives when they exercise, which keeps them safe and healthy.
Another major part of the program is the people that are in it and the lessons that are learned while participating. Trainers are able to develop good relationships with the athletes of many different sports and be part of a caring group of people. Sports med also teaches trainers to pay attention and watch for small details; an additional skill that will quickly develop is how to make the most efficient use of time, especially in serious situations. “It has taught me about time management and how to stay on a schedule, but at the same time have fun. The community built around sports med is really uplifting and positive, which I love,” Marlee Whitford, a sophomore, said.
Students in sports med also explain that their knowledge of sports overall has grown since they joined the program. First-year students get to experience it all and be on every sideline, which allows them to meet many new people. It also lets them broaden their knowledge of many different games and learn to enjoy/relate to more sports. Once trainers enter their second and third years of SM, they specialize in certain sports they choose at the beginning of the year and get to know the players on those teams better.
The sports med experience has even dictated the college path for many graduating seniors, as there are a large number of health science majors coming out of SM. Clare Manuel will major in exercise science, Bella Bartol in nursing, and Kailey Wewe in kinesiology (pre-athletic training), among many others who have chosen a health major. Sports medicine has had such an impact on these students that they have realized they would like to work in the field when they go out into the real world. Even first-year trainers such as Lana Kornblith agree that sports med will shape their future. “I don’t know that I necessarily want to do sports medicine specifically, but I definitely want to do something in the medical field,” Kornblith said.
Apply here.
The sports medicine program at Anderson is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can be impactful and beneficial to students. Applications are due February 24th, so get yours in soon!
