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Forest Hills Athletes Rally to Reinstate Athletic Trainer

Articles for Athletic Trainers and News Stories

More than 1,000 students, parents, and community members have voiced support for reinstating Athletic Trainer Mary Pennington, whose position at Forest Hills Northern High School was recently eliminated.

Screenshot 2025-10-15 092238A petition launched by senior Eli Macauley, a three-time football and lacrosse captain, gathered 1,019 signatures and was presented to the Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education on October 13.

The petition urges the district to “reinstate Mary immediately,” citing concerns for athlete safety and program sustainability.

Macauley explained that Pennington’s removal leaves only one Athletic Trainer to serve a school with more than 600 athletes and 40 sports teams.

“Training guidelines recommend one trainer per 300 athletes,” he told the board. “Without Mary, the single remaining trainer will be extremely overwhelmed.”

He described the workload as “unsustainable,” noting that the school regularly has multiple teams competing at once and athletes needing constant support, hydration, and care.

In his petition, Macauley emphasized that the loss of an Athletic Trainer is more than a staffing issue — it’s a safety concern.

“The Forest Hills administration must recognize that removing Mary places our entire athletic program at risk,” he wrote. “Injuries will go unattended and athletes will suffer.”

District officials maintain that Pennington’s departure stems from a contractual transition rather than a termination. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Tom Hosford explained that Forest Hills contracts its athletic training services through a third-party vendor that provides one Athletic Trainer per high school, plus a district-wide floater. The model, he said, mirrors those used by other Michigan districts.

Still, Macauley and his peers insist the current coverage isn’t enough.

“Maintaining a second Athletic Trainer is not an expense,” Macauley said. “It’s insurance — an investment in safety, trust, and reputation.”

The petition has sparked widespread discussion about athletic safety and the growing demands placed on high school sports medicine staff. As Macauley awaits a response from the board, his message remains clear:

“We really want Mary back.”

Read more here!