NATM Spotlight: When Spring Sports Roar, ATs are Ready on the Front Lines

As spring sports ramp up across high schools, Athletic Trainers are preparing for one of the busiest times of the year. March not only signals the start of packed athletic schedules, but it also marks National Athletic Training Month (NATM), a time to recognize the healthcare professionals who keep athletes safe and performing at their best.

At Cape Henlopen High School in Delaware, Athletic Trainers Hollyann Wettstein and Ashley Schuster are already navigating the fast pace of the season. For Wettstein, the profession offers a unique opportunity to blend many areas of healthcare.

“As athletic trainers, we're an allied health profession,” Wettstein said. “We’re able to collaborate with so many different people and dabble in so many different aspects of healthcare.”

Athletic Trainers work on the front lines of sports medicine, providing injury prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation. They tape and brace injuries, manage concussions, assist with nutrition guidance and respond to emergencies during games and practices.

“The [Delaware Athletic Trainers Association] slogan this month is ‘Care you can count on,’” Wettstein said. “They come up with a different slogan every month, but it's true. Holidays, when they have practice at 8 a.m., we're here, and after school, we're here.”

The work becomes even more critical during postseason competition and large events. At a recent DIAA wrestling tournament hosted by Cape, multiple trainers collaborated to cover injuries and provide immediate care for athletes.

But for many Athletic Trainers, the most rewarding part of the job is the relationships they build with students.

“I love working with the kids, seeing them from freshmen all the way up to when they're seniors, and just helping out and seeing them mature and grow,” said Athletic Trainer Heather Heidel. “When they do get injured, [it’s about] helping them get back out on the field, and seeing their accomplishments and the joy of doing what they love.”

Even as the schedule grows hectic, the trainers say spring remains their favorite season—because it means being there for athletes when they need it most. Read the full story here!