'Always There, Ready to Help': A New Athletic Trainer Making an Immediate Impact

Every morning, the athletic training room at James Bowie High School is filled with activity as student-athletes stop in for treatment, recovery, and support. At the heart of it all are Bowie’s Athletic Trainers: head Athletic Trainer Pablo Riera and assistant Athletic Trainer Ysabel Cuellar, who joined the program this school year.

Cuellar returned to the Austin area after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in athletic training. She began her professional career working at Elgin High School and Elgin Middle School before accepting the opportunity at Bowie.

“I’ve always loved everything about the environment of athletic training,” Cuellar said. “I did sports medicine in high school and really enjoyed the sports setting, and after that, I knew I wanted to continue studying it.”

Athletic Trainers focus on injury prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation, working closely with student-athletes to keep them healthy and safe. According to Bowie students, Cuellar’s efficient treatment techniques and approachable demeanor have quickly made her someone they trust. Junior Maren Moore credits Cuellar with helping her recover from a hip injury earlier this year.

“At the beginning of this year, I had a hip injury, and would go to the trainers to receive treatment,” Moore said. “Coach C was always there, ready to help, so I could quickly get back to playing.”

Riera says Cuellar’s impact has been felt beyond the training room, particularly among students interested in sports medicine.

“I think she brings a new perspective and new drive to the program,” Riera said. “She has a hard-working attitude that brings much-needed energy to what it means to be an Athletic Trainer.”

Students consistently describe Cuellar as easy to talk to and genuinely invested in their well-being.

“My favorite thing about Coach C is that she’s easy to talk to and get along with,” Moore said.

For Cuellar, those connections are the most rewarding part of the job.

“Interacting with the athletes and getting to know them better while helping them with whatever they are going through is my favorite part of my day,” she said.

This story was originally reported by Eve Johansson, a junior at James Bowie High School, and readers are encouraged to check out her full article in the Bowie student newspaper.