By Arpita Kandula, Guest Contributor
Originally from the Philippines, sophomore psychology major Herwel Miña has always been active in sports, but it was an Intro to Athletic Training class that sparked her interest in the role she currently holds. After coming to Wheaton, a friend introduced her to the student trainer program. She soon began shadowing Assistant Athletic Trainer Allan Prasil.
Between student training, a second job at Sam’s Café, night labs and an 18-credit course load, Miña’s days are booked. She splits her time between the clinic and the football field, handling everything from bloody noses to turf burns.
Like all new student trainers, Miña began with observation.
“I grew up in a culture where I had to wait for people to tell me what to do,” she said. “But now I’ll come in and just start doing stuff without anyone telling me.”
Despite the intensity of the job, she finds the support from certified and upper-class student trainers invaluable. “They were amazing, amazing people to work with — and to work for,” she said.
The athletic training room, tucked beside the pool in Chrouser, is where athletes come for tape, ice and rehab. From first aid to long hours on the sidelines, student trainers keep the program running. During practice, student trainers rotate around the field for two or three hours, ready to respond to injuries. Pre-practice setup involves preparing water bottles, ice bags and AEDs (automated external defibrillators). They also tape up athletes’ ankles, wrists and blisters to prevent sprains and irritation.
In the fall, student trainers devote most of their time to football, but they also cover soccer, track and wrestling. Saturdays are often full-day commitments, especially for away games.
Aspen Baker, a senior health science major, has worked in Wheaton’s athletic training room for three years. But what stands out most to Baker is the people. “I would describe it as a very inviting place,” she said.
Student trainers are sometimes the first responders to medical emergencies. Megan Kim, a senior applied health science major on the pre-PT track, said that a few weeks back, “somebody came up to me with a pretty big cut on his neck.”
“He didn’t really realize it because I think the adrenaline kicked in, but there was blood dripping out of his helmet,” Kim said. After cleaning up the wound, Kim saw that it was “a pretty big gash,” and the certified athletic trainer came to “put it back together.”
When asked about her role, however, Kim says being a student trainer is the “best campus job.”
For athletes, the presence of student trainers can make a big difference. Mateo Jesch, a senior international relations major and football kicker, said, “Without the student trainers, there’d be one trainer out there and there’s 115 guys on the team.”
“Not only are student trainers crucial to helping, but they’re also a nice little temporary escape from the stress of football,” Jesch said. “You go over, we have a little side conversation with them, and it kind of lightens your mood.”
