.svg)
By
Oh, wow! We just love stories like this. At Healthy Roster, we'll share any spotlight that we find on Athletic Trainers, but this is a great story that honors someone who put in 30 years on the job! And we're here for it!
So, yeah, for three decades, Cari Wood has woven herself into the fabric of Redmond High School in Oregon, not just as the lead Athletic Trainer but as a pillar of support, guidance, and care for the student athletes whose lives she's touched.
As Wood steps into retirement, her story unfolds like a tapestry, marked by moments of laughter, urgency, and profound impact.
In an episode that perfectly encapsulates the intertwining of Wood's personal and professional lives, a dental emergency became a prelude to her retirement celebration.
Hours before she was to be honored, a crown fell out, and Jed Keener, a former student athlete(now her dentist!), came to the rescue, ensuring she could smile confidently in front of the crowd gathered to celebrate her career.
“Yes, he is my dentist and was going to be there (at the games) and he didn’t want to see me toothless in front of a big audience,”
This blend of the personal with the professional, the serious with the serendipitous, characterizes Wood's time at Redmond High.
The ceremony itself was a vibrant testament to the love and respect the community holds for Wood. Amidst the cheers of a packed gymnasium, Wood was visibly moved, surrounded by signs bearing her name, and engulfed in the affection of colleagues, students, and athletes past and present.
“I am not emotional because I am leaving my career, I am emotional because of the outpouring of texts and emails and messages on social media from former athletes from so long ago, and the fact that they want to make such a big deal out of it. It surprised me how big it is.”
Wood's legacy is not just in the athletes she's healed but in the lives she's shaped. Inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Hall of Fame, her professional accolades pale in comparison to the joy she finds in seeing her "Panther grandkids" succeed. Her influence extends beyond the gym and the field, fostering a sense of family and community that endures.
Athletes like Sebastian Harris and Tatum Aeschilman share stories of Wood's care, from rehabilitating injuries to navigating concussions, highlighting her role as much more than an Athletic Trainer but as a guardian and mentor.
Harris: “Today was my last day of physical therapy. She actually got me the brace that I was using and the crutches to go home. As a freshman, looking forward to the rest of high school, I am really sad I won’t have Cari Wood for sports injuries.”
Aeschilman: "She is amazing, she takes care of us.”
Her former athletes, including Maarty Leunen, attest to the lasting impact of her guidance, underscoring Wood's role in not only healing physical wounds but also in nurturing resilience, ambition, and compassion.
“At the end of the day Cari loves being around athletes, being around sports. I don’t see her not coming around anymore. She’ll be around. We’ll see her. And I’m sure if she has the opportunity to help, whatever it may be, she’ll step in.”
As Cari Wood looks back on her career, the stories of emergency dental fixes, heartfelt farewells, and the countless athletes she's supported merge into a narrative of unwavering commitment and enduring legacy.
Redmond High School and its community bid farewell to a figure whose influence extends well beyond the sports field, leaving a legacy of care, inspiration, and an indelible mark on the hearts of many.
Check out the full story here!
