Playing a Division I sport for Quinnipiac University is no easy task. The athletes get bumps, and bruises, concussions and broken bones. With long practices and hard workouts everyday there are bound to be physical injuries that need attention.
It was a cold Sunday morning. An athletic training student rolled out of bed, and got into uniform. We see them everyday in their khaki pants and blue Sports Medicine attire, but what do they do?
It was a game day and everything had to be set up just right. While athletes around campus are still sleeping hours before the start of the game, the trainers are setting up the athletic training room and getting treatments ready for their athletes.
Ice bags need to be made, heating pads have to be ready and water bottles must be filled up. As time goes by the athletes begin to trickle in one by one complaining of new injuries or receiving rehab for old ones.
It is the job of the athletic trainers to make sure their athletes stay healthy and in top physical condition to compete.
“We perform treatments on our athletes to reduce pain, we also do treatments like ankle tape and ultra sound, and on top of that we need to know CPR and must attend practices and games everyday,” said Paula Murillo, a third year athletic training student.
Each athletic team here at Quinnipiac gets assigned one Certified Athletic Trainer, and two student trainers. Each are required to attend practice everyday and be available for treatments one hour before practice and one hour after practice.
“The trainers we have this season are extremely helpful. They keep our team up and running and they work so hard all for our benefit” said Megan Matthews, woman’s lacrosse goalie.
Another student athlete, Jennifer Belk said, “They really keep our team healthy and I feel like I can go to them for help with any injury and I am in good hands.”
With all the work athletic trainers do, they are often not appreciated as much as they deserve to be.
“About a quarter of the coaches here at Quinnipiac are good about calling and letting our trainers know about schedule changes, but there are a few coaches who don’t realize how hard we work,” said Assistant Athletic Director/Head Athletic Trainer Ron Ogrodowicz.
“We have been getting more recognition lately, but I don’t think people realize how long the hours are and how hard the work really is,” added Murillo.
The students and administration of the Sports Medicine program here at Quinnipiac are the hardest working and most caring team on campus. So, even though it’s not the trainers who are out scoring goals and winning games, is because of them that the athletes are.