Staff Spotlight: The Athletic Trainers

Courtesy of @exeterathletictraining

By V MURDAYA, ISHAAN SINGH, and LEON XIE

Exeter’s athletic trainers help manage the injuries of student athletes on campus. A number of services are provided through this program, including injury prevention, clinical evaluations, and rehabilitation.

Director of Athletic Training Adam Hernandez explained the process of dealing with students. “We are open six days a week, primarily in the afternoon. During the start of athletics block we try to prioritize getting students out to practices. During our time with students we may evaluate a new injury or follow up on an injury. We may do some rehab with a student or tape them up,” he said. These methods allow athletes to enhance their athletic performance, as well as their longevity as student athletes.

Hernandez also stated, “Regular strength training programs are one of the best injury prevention tools that exist in sport. At Phillips Exeter, we are lucky to work closely with our colleagues in Strength and Conditioning who do an amazing job working with our students. They use up to date coaching techniques and technology (force plates) alongside their amazing facility to support our students. We cannot say enough good things about the work they do.”

Downer Fitness Center overseer and multisport coach Bob Lietz believes that the strength and conditioning programs excel past others that he’s seen, and appreciates their state-ofthe-art facilities. “I’m very fond of the strength and conditioning programs that we have here in PEA,” he stated. “I can reflect back to when I was a high school student, where our gymnasium was our workout facility. It was really small, whereas here in Philips Exeter we have a full weight, strength and conditioning room with the turf, as well as coaches to help students how to properly lift weights and condition and condition their bodies for athletics and other pursuits.”

Hernandez reflected on Exeter’s facilities that are equipped for helping students. “We are lucky to have generous facilities and technology here at Phillips Exeter. You will find many of the tools and technology a person may expect in the collegiate or professional sports setting. Our limits to care mostly center around the schedule and at times the number of treatment tables we have during the afternoon rush,” he said.

Moreover, the athletic team is equally experienced to deal with student athletes. “The athletic training staff here at PEA is very skilled and seasoned. We have all worked in fast paced college or professional settings,” Hernandez explained.

Teamwork and collaboration between the athletic trainers is crucial, especially in certain situations. Hernandez went on to elaborate, “It can be busy during the start of athletics block but for the most part we are able to handle that stress well. We do our best to get through the heavy volume of students on busy days and tend to feel bad when students have to wait longer than normal (average wait time is ten minutes). As a department, we work well as a team and often help each other when things get busy.”

Lietz also described the personal connections between a trainer and an athlete. “The process is initially trying to establish a good connection with the student athletes. I have their best intentions at heart, when I try to share something that I think is valuable to them during their experience at PEA.”

All in all, however, athletic trainers and coaches alike enjoy coaching and helping Exeter students. Lietz added, “I would just like to say that I have very much enjoyed working with Phillips Exeter students. I find that they by and large are very approachable. They are diligent about their activities, and they are real athletes. So it’s a real pleasure to be able to participate in Phillips Exeter’s Athletics.”

Hernandez agreed with Lietz. “Watching our student athletes win a big game, set a PR, or in other aspects of their Exeter life (in a play, a music performance, or seeing their art) is very rewarding. We all choose to work in this setting because we get a chance to share in a student’s growth through their time at Exeter.”