Student trainers work through a season after season of various sports for very little recognition. They work hard before, during and after every game. Mary Edwards is a senior at Jenks High School and has been a member of the training staff since her junior year. For Edwards, there are many reasons why she loves being part of the staff at Jenks.

“The things I enjoy most about being a student trainer are the relationships I get to build with not only other student trainers but also athletes and other professionals, the things I get to learn, and the opportunities it provides me such as leadership and mentoring,” said Edwards.

Being a student trainer looks like a lot of fun, and it is. But there is a lot of work that must be accomplished prior to kickoff.

“Here at Jenks the fall is typically our busiest season. We are assigned three out of the four football practices a week to work. Each practice typically runs for about two and a half hours, and we partake in basic first aid, water, and then household duties such as cleaning. Every Friday night we work games, both home and away. We typically arrive around three in the afternoon and can be there as late as midnight depending on the location,” said Edwards. “At games we are responsible for taping wrists, basic first aid, water, and household duties such as cleaning upon arrival back at Allan Trimble Stadium. Winter/spring is a lot less busy and has more flexibility. In the winter/spring, we are all assigned to various sports where we attend practices and home games. In the spring we are not required to stay for the full allotment of time that practice takes place, we are allowed to leave when school gets out, and attendance at games is optional. However, a lot of us decide to stay because we enjoy what we are doing.”

When football season comes to an end, the focus is turned to winter and spring sports.

“In the fall we work football, but once football season is over, we transition to winter/spring sports. Those consist of boys basketball, girls basketball, wrestling, track and field, girls soccer, and boys soccer. Last year I got to be one of the student trainers for both girls and boys soccer,” said Edwards.

For more on Edwards and what it’s like to be a student-trainer at Jenks, visit VYPEPlusOK.com