Feature Photo By: Amor-Leigh Wilson – Heidi Kelley tapes up sophomore varsity football player Kaleb Sterling’s wrist to prevent any muscles from pulling. Senior Livia Sundberg waits patiently to get her wrist taped up also.
When a basketball player pulls a muscle or a football player hits his head a little too hard, who gets them back into the game? Heidi Kelley: Rangeview High School’s athletic trainer. Many would say Kelley plays an important part in the athletic success of many Rangeview athletes.
Kelley first entered Rangeview as a part-time athletic trainer and teacher; teaching Sports Med for 7th period, she was able to build relationships with students and teachers.
Stated by sophomore Anthony Nickelson, who pulled his Anterior cruciate ligament at the start of the football season, “Heidi is very important to my athletic success since she makes me healthy. And she puts me back into the game.”
Rangeview is currently the only APS school that has access to a full time athletic trainer, bringing more safety to the Rangeview athletic department. High school athletes suffer an estimated 2 million injuries every year, resulting in 500,000 doctor visits and 300,000 hospitalizations.
Kelley has seen a lot of serious injuries during her time at Rangeview, but still remains cautious when dealing with each and every kid.
“I have to make sure those kids are safe,” Kelley said, “I have to make sure I make the right decision regarding these kids health. Because if I make one wrong decision, it could be not so great.”
Kelley is not only here for the student athletes, she is also here for every student and staff member that may be suffering from an injury.
According to social studies teacher Stephanie Walsh, “She knows her job really well. And for a high school to have an athletic trainer like her is extraordinary. She really knows what she is talking about.”
Kelley has helped many staff members as well as students at Rangeview when it comes to injuries. Some say Kelley is willing to help everyone and anyone.
Kelley has worked for Rangeview for 18 years and each year she meets new students with new situations and injuries. As a full time athletic trainer, she is able to take her time and give each child child/adult the care they need.
Through the years, not many people have been made aware of what she actually does. As an athletic trainer she is expected to prevent, diagnose, treat muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. Yet there are somethings that are not listed in her job descriptions that she expects herself to do.
“There is a lot of behind the scenes stuff that is going on. And I am not just standing at the games to watch but I have to make sure those kids are safe,” Kelley commented.
If a star player is injured, he/she then has someone to handle that which in return gives the team a sort of safety net when it comes to the sport.
With Kelley around to help with an injured athlete, the stress of having to treat the player doesn’t fall on the shoulders of the coaches. With Kelley, athletes get better faster and don’t run the risks of making their situation worse.
According to the varsity football kicker, junior Axel Lara,“[Kelley] is super important. She is basically a 12th player to the team.”
Some would agree that she is just as important to the team as one of the coaches; without her their athletes wouldn’t be able to perform to the best of their ability.
