By Sydney Williams
Staff Writer

Coming to school at the crack of dawn, and leaving at the brink of night. Coppell High School’s student athletic trainers show as much dedication to Coppell sports as the players do themselves. The trainers hold the responsibility of continually keeping athletes hydrated, safe and healthy at every practice and game during their 12-13 hour work days.

At 5:45 in the morning, most of Coppell High School’s students are still asleep under their sheets, except for a select few – the sports trainers.

“We set up [the] gyms, the practice fields with water and fill the whirlpools,” licensed athletic trainer Yvette Carson said.

An average work day for the student trainers at CHS consists of being at school before the athletes and coaches arrive and leaving the campus much later, setting up the water coolers for practice in the morning and afternoons and giving treatments and rehabilitation to those who are injured.

“[We have student trainers for] basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, football, volleyball, wrestling-basically all the school’s UIL sports,” senior student trainer Connor Lasater said.

Once one sport season is over, another one starts; you can imagine how busy a student sport’s trainer schedule is.

Some people may not know the importance of Coppell Sports Medicine at Coppell High School, and their student sports trainers affiliated with them and why they are vital to the athletes and coaches here at CHS.

“Student trainers are our student assistants. [Coppell as a whole] has a total of 1,500 high school student athletes. [They are] our second set of eyes and hears,” Carson said.

The student trainers are the ones who walk the halls with the athletes, and who are apart of the student body, not the teachers. When the student trainers are able to the let the trainers, Carson and Barry Jones, know if a student athlete was feeling ill after or during practice, if limping on the way to class or if something occurred during the school day that injured them, Jones and Carson are greatly appreciative because it lets them know, as licensed trainers, how to help the athlete’s injury.

“[Student trainers] help us with set up with practices and the execution of games. Football is so hard and so incredibly intensive. Student trainers are indispensable with helping us keeping everyone hydrated,” Carson said.

During football practice, the student trainers especially help the football players.

“During practice there always ready to give us water, and fix our scratches. [They] help you work through and play through the season with things that they provide [for] the athletes,” junior defensive back Drew McAdams said.

No matter what sport an athlete plays, there’s always a chance of injury.

“The possibility of injury lies in each sport. So being prepared to respond to all types of problems and injuries is necessary regardless of the sport,” Carson said.

Some would think that when helping people and supplying for athletes needs everyday, they would want to work in the health field once they became of age, but Lasater is different.

“I really enjoy [caring for people and their injuries, and helping people out, but] I want to be a lawyer,” Lasater said.

However, not everyone is the same.

“I want to be a physical therapist and being in sports medicine helps me with the anatomy and rehabilitation side of it,” sophomore student trainer Nathan Ballard said.

Being a student trainer in Sports Medicine at CHS also teaches their students life skills that they will always cherish and remember.

“I’ve learned communication skills and I’ve made [new] friendships. I’m a shy person, so I [don’t] think I would have the friends I have now if it [wasn’t for this],” Lasater said.

Student trainers are not only important to the athletes and coaches, but to Carson and Jones as well. They are important to everyone. The trainers at Coppell High School would not trade what they do for anything-the school needs them.

“One of our sayings is, ’we’re first to the party and last to leave’. We’re the first ones here in the morning and the last to leave. But you know, we do what we love,” Carson said.