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Pontiac High School students wishing to become athletic trainers someday will be given the opportunity to gain valuable experience through a new program to be initiated this fall. The program, formed jointly by the PTHS Athletic Department and Champion Fitness Physical Therapy, will provide selected students with hands-on training techniques and concepts involving athletic teams at PTHS under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer.
“This is a program we’ve wanted to get started for a few years now,” Champion Fitness Physical Therapy owner Jeff Schade stated, “and we finally have the staff available to see it off the ground. Kevin Casey, who serves as our trainer at PTHS, will coordinate the program, but we will also rely on others for input along the way, including our own ATC Luke Thompson and Jill Francis at the high school.”
The program will be open to students who have a love of athletics and a desire to help others. “It could be a manager of a current team; it might be an incoming freshman; it could be someone who loves sports but maybe can’t play for one reason or another; or maybe it could be an athlete who’s involved during one season and maybe not another, but he or she just wants to stay involved,” Schade commented. “There’s a lot of time involved and a lot of commitment, but the rewards are long-lasting.”
Students will attend workshops and seminars early in their training, picking up the necessary knowledge to help service a squad. Taping techniques, assisting injured performers, applying heat and cold treatments will be just a few of the many fundamental principles taught along the way. “We will have them come to our clinic in the morning before school, for example,” said Schade, “so they can actually see how modalities’ applications are done properly. We’ll also emphasize the importance of stretching and focus on specific stretches that they can use with athletes on the teams they will be servicing.”
Both PTHS Principal Jon Kilgore and Athletic Director Ryan Pearson endorse the idea. “We see it as a win-win for everybody. With all the programs we have here, our one trainer on staff can’t be everywhere, and now we have an extra set of hands to help out,” noted Pearson. Kilgore sees the long-range benefit of the program. “It’s an excellent teaching tool and a great possibility for a career choice for our students down the road,” he added.
Students with questions can contact Champion Fitness Physical Therapy at 815-844-5411 (ext 1107). The official sign-up for interested applicants will take place on August 11 during the Parents’ Night meeting at the PTHS auditorium.