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Under the Friday night lights, Courtney Goebel, a dedicated Athletic Trainer, remains alert and ready as athletes rely on her quick thinking and expertise.
Garfield senior running back Isaiah Mathews said:
“They have to be ready for everything. Anything could happen. We really need her.”
As Goebel races onto the field, she knows that her swift and precise response could determine whether a player can return to the game or faces a more severe outcome.
At 29, Goebel is no stranger to both the triumphs and setbacks of high school sports. The Champion High School and the University of Akron graduate explained:
“We’re there for the dog days, the two-a-days. We see the kids get ready… and see the result of everything we worked towards.”
From her years of experience, she has developed a skill for quick response, a quality appreciated by East Community Learning Center’s coach, Marques Hayes:
“She has a knack to be quick in her responses for anything that happens."
Beyond emergency care, Goebel performs routine checkups, taping, and therapeutic exercises. She also employs advanced techniques learned from her time at the University of Akron and Akron Children’s Hospital, including compression pumps and cupping, therapies that promote blood flow and recovery.
For Goebel, building relationships with her players is just as crucial as the physical care she provides. Garfield senior linebacker Martino Mitchell said:
“When we get injured, she wraps us up, takes care of us, makes sure we don’t need anything. Knowing us, she can tell if we’re hurt.”
Having a full-time Athletic Trainer like Goebel has been transformative for student-athletes. Hayes added:
“To have a full-time Athletic Trainer has been truly imperative to the growth of our student-athletes.”
As she aims to be a veteran presence, Goebel cherishes her role, finding fulfillment under the Friday night lights. Read her full story here!
