April 28, 2009
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
by Lisa Carrougher, The Western Front
An array of training tables are stationed at the end of the long hallway in Carver Gym. The overflow of student athletes lie on the tables rehabbing their most recent injury with the help of Western's athletic trainer certified (ATC) staff members.
Only three athletic trainers care for 15 varsity sports, which keep them busy, but working in a confined space makes their job difficult. Athletes have had to receive care in the hallways because the training room is small, said Lonnie Lyon, head athletic trainer.
"It would be nice to have our own offices and have a training room twice as big for rehab, so we don't have to use the gym or the hallway," said Julie Weisgerber, the sole female ATC.
This year, the softball team has struggled through injuries, and the trainers have been adamant about getting them back on the field.
Masayoshi Migita, an ATC, said he tries to do as much as he can for the new athletes.
For the softball players, he said he does a lot of continuous muscle massaging, icing, shoulder stretches and leg and knee strengthening combined with cardio for general conditioning in order to get them back as soon as possible.
The bottom line is the safety of the players when they return to playing, he said.
But Weisgerber said under current conditions, the ATCs do not have a lot of room for rehab. For now, the staff is able to make do with what they have.
"Our offices are in the back, and we're constantly going back and forth," Lyon said.
Lyon has been an ATC since 1991 and has worked at Western for 10 years. Lyon currently is working with four teams.
The trio has built strong relationships with the athletes because the staff is constantly spending time with them, Lyon said. However, the struggle has been working in such a small space with so many athletes, he said.
Meetings to discuss renovation of the training room have been held because of the small size of the room, but no specific plans are in place, Weisgerber said.
The staff is constantly with the teams and helping players get back into practice or ready for competitions, Lyon said.
Western senior basketball player Jessica Summers said in order to continue playing on a regular basis, the best thing to do is to listen to the ATCs and receive consistent care.
"They are constantly coming in every day, and they end up spending more time here than with their boyfriends or girlfriends, and they get jealous," Lyon said.
The staff forms close bonds with the team players and coaches since the athletic trainers jobs are such a big time commitment, Lyon said.
The ATC has a protective node with the athletes, and their relationships act like a surrogate parent relationship, Lyon said.
"It helps me to do my job," Migita said. "Communication is key, and I have good relationships and that helps."
Weisgerber said it is important to her to have those relationships with the athletes.
Spending time with the players gains trust, and trainers are able to get more information about their injuries, Migita said.
"It is important to adjust to every athlete's personality and needs," Weisgerber said. "I have a good feel for that, and that's what makes me have a good relationship."
Summers said she has become good friends with Weisgerber outside of basketball.
"We both have dogs so we see each other at the dog park, and we have built a friendship," Summers said.
Although the relationships are worth the time, the ATC staff spends a lot of energy away from home, Lyon said.
Lyon said his travel time varies depending upon the time of year. In winter, he said he usually works on campus for about 10 hours per day. He is with the basketball team 100 percent of the time. However, in the spring, he does not do any traveling.
"You are away from your home and family," he said. "It wears on your life."
Migita said he works an average of 50 hours per week, not including some weekend game coverage.
"The rewards are not equaling out to the time and energy we put in," Lyon said.
