While winter sports like basketball and wrestling shine at the front of the stage, those involved the Athletic Training Student Aide program work behind the scenes to get the athletes ready for games and matches. Students signed up for the winter season of athletic training stay after school during the week to help treat student athletes and learn more about the human body and how it works.

 “When I grow up I want to do something in the medical field and I thought I would be a good experience to get exposed to some medical type things and learn more about the body,” said sophomore Sarah Holz.

 Holz, along with other students, sign up for two days each week to treat athletes’ injuries and react if there is an emergency. Many of the students involved plan to go into the medical field and have gained a lot of hands-on experience from this program that will help them achieve success in their future careers.

 “I would recommend ATSA to anyone who wants to go into the medical field. Even though it might not be the certain medical field you want to go into, it’s definitely a good way to become more independent and get a better idea of what you need in order to go into that certain field,” said senior Fredy Barrientos.

 Barrientos plans to major in athletic training in college, so this program has been very helpful to him. Since this is his last year, he is preparing to leave high school behind and readying himself for college.

 “It’s a very sad realization [that I won’t be here next year], but at the same time I’m okay with it, because it definitely taught me a lot. At the same time, [the program] has done so much for me that if I were to stay here, I wouldn’t grow,” said Barrientos.

 Although many seniors are moving on, some are just beginning; eighth grader Aidan Nemur is starting his first year of athletic training early.

 “I had the opportunity to help out this year, and I wouldn’t decline it because it’s really fun [to help out],” said Nemur.

 Due to his experience with sports injuries from managing football, Nemur was given special permission to start ATSA this year rather than next year. So far, he is enjoying his experience and isn’t very phased by the fact that everyone else involved in the athletic training program is older than him.

 “It’s very fun and interesting, I’m learning all of these new medical terms and how to treat people,” said Nemur.

 Many of the students that are involved in the winter program are student athletes, including junior football player Jared Brennan. Brennan has been in the ATSA program since his freshman year and plans to continue into his senior year. He has enjoyed participating in this program during the winter season and feels he has learned a lot.

 “[I’ve gained] knowledge of how to help people out and a better understanding of how injuries work and what type of sports focus of different body parts and movements,” said Brennan.

Tim Cocrane, the students’ athletic trainer, has been working at Potomac Falls for three years after working at Thomas Jefferson High School for two years. . He enjoys his job thoroughly, though there can be difficult aspects of the job.

 “The hardest part about my job is that you never know what’s going to happen, but that’s also one of the things I like most, it’s one of the most challenging [aspects of the job]. You never know what’s going to happen during a match. You could have a sprained finger, you could have a broken leg, you could have a concussion, or a neck injury you need to call the ambulance for. It’s not knowing what’s going to happen that is the hardest part, but it’s also what makes me strive to be better,” said Cocrane.

 The school is very lucky to have this program since it is one of the only schools in the county with a program like this and provides students with ways to gain medical experience.

 “The student aid program we have at Potomac Falls is the only club where they’re going to get practical, clinical experience in healthcare. In health, you’re going to learn about the body, you’re going to learn the basics. In biology, you’re going to learn some anatomy, but the student aid is the only place you’re going to get hands-on experience. [You’ll be doing] evaluations, diagnosing, rehabilitating, treating, it’s going to be a plethora of injuries, sports, and environments. It’s not just in athletic training room where we learn, or on the computer, but it’s also on the field, on the court, on the wrestling mat. There’s no other program that Potomac Falls provides that allows this type of learning, in this much depth,” said Cocrane.

 The ATSA program is a good idea for those interested in going further in the medical field and many of the students, as well as the athletic trainer, involved recommend it as a way to gain more knowledge and apply that knowledge.
 “I recommend that those who are interested in medicine or in sports medicine, that are looking to take it to the college level should get involved. I’m really looking for the people who want to learn more about medicine,” said Cocrane.