Spotlight: Athletic Trainers

By LOGAN BECKERLE, ANGELA HE, ANDREW YANG, FORREST ZHENG

In the guts of the Academy’s sprawling athletic complex sit two bold red doors. Inside, people bustle about between rows of athletes lying on black treatment tables. This is the office of the athletic trainers—and to say their job is essential would be an understatement.

As licensed health professionals, athletic trainers keep Big Red athletes in top condition, addressing all sorts of injuries and illnesses. At such an athletically rigorous school, the trainers are the backbone of Exeter’s athletic culture. 

“Their expertise and presence on the sidelines give athletes and coaches peace of mind, knowing that professional support is readily available,” said Director of Athletics Jason Baseden. “Additionally, athletic trainers contribute to the overall athletic culture by promoting physical and mental resilience.” In addition to on-campus training services, the trainers also help to refer athletes to Academy-connected providers. 

Trainers work closely with coaches and athletes, especially through digital software such as TeamBuildr. “TeamBuildr enables trainers and strength coaches to design, track, and adjust individualized workout programs tailored to each athlete’s rehabilitation or performance goals,” Baseden described. “By sharing real-time data and insights, TeamBuildr allows athletic trainers and strength coaches to monitor progress, make informed adjustments, and ensure each athlete’s readiness to compete at their best while minimizing injury risk.”

“In the strength and conditioning room, we utilize Hawkin Dynamic Force plates that allow us to see over 70 metrics,” added strength and conditioning coach Zach Marhamo. “These metrics help us track the athletes throughout the recovery process.”

Most athletic trainers have vast experience in physical education and recovery. Adam Hernandez, Director of Athletic Training, detailed his journey coming to the Academy. “I arrived at PEA after practicing as an athletic trainer at Tabor Academy and before then in the collegiate and winter Olympic sports settings. I was drawn to the independent school world because I wanted to be a part of young students’ growth as they pursued their passions in physical activity. In college, I served as a resident assistant in the dorms and enjoyed serving in residential life. I was excited to work within a residential community in independent schools and be part of building belonging and healthy habits for adolescents.”

Marhamo shared his story. “Before Exeter,  I served as the assistant director of strength and conditioning at Merrimack College. I also previously held roles as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Massachusetts Boston as well as Colby College.”

The trainers’ process of keeping athletes safe is often complex for students, yet the Academy’s trainers handle it with no problem. “The process of helping an injured athlete can be long and monotonous, but with our experienced staff they are often able to have an athlete in and out in record time!” Hernandez explained. “Recovery for a student-athlete is multifaceted.”

Recovery training varies between students, and the trainers do their best to accommodate the needs of athletes. “For short-term recovery, students should get a good cool down after exercise that can include things like riding a bike, going for a short swim, foam rolling, stretching, or doing mindfulness exercises.” Hernandez described. “But for long-term recovery, it is important that students take time off and away from sport. Exercising seven days a week for months on end can prevent the body from recovering fully.”

The athletic training program doesn’t just train athletes to be strong physically. There is also a significant mental aspect, Marhamo clarified. “Our main objective is to ensure the athletes are physically and mentally prepared to return to sport safely. Strength and conditioning coaches play a pivotal role in the recovery process,” he said. 

Students and athletes of the academy provided insight into the typical recovery process of an injury, made possible by the athletic trainers’ office. Lower Aryan Agarwal said, “I had an away game last year at Brewster and fell on my hip and wrist. When I returned from the game, I went straight to the trainers, who were really helpful. They immediately began working on my injury, even though they were about to close.”

Lower David Liu explained a common misconception with the trainers. “Some people think that you go to the trainers if you’re not tough. But it’s important to know that even the toughest athletes sometimes get injured. It’s important to recognize when you can push through the pain and when you have to get an injury checked out.”

At such a competitive school, injury is inevitable. And at the end of the day, the Academy’s athletic trainers are always there to help. “We are fortunate to have an exceptionally experienced athletic training team, led by Mr. Hernandez, that provides invaluable support to our athletic program,” Baseden concluded. “His team allows coaches to concentrate on team goals without the concern of managing injuries, as they know their athletes are receiving expert care.”