Well, I made it. I survived my two years as an athletic trainer at the University of Central Oklahoma. Looking back, the time went by SO fast and I can't believe that it is already over. Don't get me wrong, there were definitely days that I thought would never end or that I wanted to quit on the spot. But, regardless, I made it.
Truth be told, I already miss it. I miss sitting in the office and being asked, mid lunch, to hook someone up to ice and stim. Or having one of my wrestlers come bother me with some fake injury. Those boys are hypocondriacs. But I still love them. :) I know for sure that I will miss the road trips and being stuck on the bus with those crazy boys for hours at a time.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to work with some many great people during the last two years. My co-workers were awesome and they helped me to become a better athletic trainer. I remember when Gonzo told me that I was gonna work wrestling and I thought to myself "Oh great..." but I would not be the same person or the same ATC that I am today without the experiences that I have had. Those boys and Coach DJ have changed my life.
This post became extremely sappy. I didn't really intend for that but oh well. That happens when I get reminiscent. And it is the unfortunate side effect of being my father's daughter. What I wanted to say was that I am sad to be leaving behind UCO and am hoping for more great times and memories at a high school. Can't wait for the future!
But I will always be a Broncho...Just a day in the life of an athletic trainer! :)
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
On The Road Again...
I am sitting in a hotel room, somewhere in Kearney, Nebraska. I don't have access to the BYU basketball game on TV so I am listening to it. It is AWESOME!! I totally wish I was there but I know that being here is important too.
We have had lots of excitement this week in the world of UCO wrestling. Both of our 141 pounders got concussions. When does that happen?? Like never... One got hurt on Saturday in our Dual and the other got hurt yesterday in practice. Bummer. So we had to come on our trip without one. If it weren't so crappy, it would be pretty funny.
I also got to see some stitches done on the face of one of our baseball players who ran into the fence. Yeah...
That is pretty much all I have to report. I know I haven't written in like two months but it has been pretty low key. Lots of little stuff. We did have to send two kids to get stitches back to back days over christmas break and then another kid got some over the weekend. So three kids in like four days. Pretty impressive.
Just another day in the life of an athletic trainer. :)
We have had lots of excitement this week in the world of UCO wrestling. Both of our 141 pounders got concussions. When does that happen?? Like never... One got hurt on Saturday in our Dual and the other got hurt yesterday in practice. Bummer. So we had to come on our trip without one. If it weren't so crappy, it would be pretty funny.
I also got to see some stitches done on the face of one of our baseball players who ran into the fence. Yeah...
That is pretty much all I have to report. I know I haven't written in like two months but it has been pretty low key. Lots of little stuff. We did have to send two kids to get stitches back to back days over christmas break and then another kid got some over the weekend. So three kids in like four days. Pretty impressive.
Just another day in the life of an athletic trainer. :)
Monday, November 22, 2010
Wow, What A Joke!
Remember when I used to say that all the time?? Well it totally applies here! The schedule this weekend was relatively the same. Just a lot longer and crazier. Here is the abreviated version.
Left Edmond at 8:30am. Stopped in Salina, KS (4 hrs into trip, halfway) for lunch @ Subway. Arrived in Omaha at 5:00 pm. Checked in to Hotel, got settled. Went to practice at University of Nebraska at Omaha (which is kind of a creepy school at night, no lights and it is in a forest...) then came home and waited for the guys to shower before dinner. Went to Perkins around 7:30pm. Perkins is awesome!! I haven't been since MN/MI but it was bomb and I was SUPER hungery by the time we ate so it was even better. Went back, got ready for bed and fell asleep.
Wake up call at 5:15am. Then started the longest day EVER!! There were 30 schools (12 Division 1) at this tournament. 730 something wrestlers. 15 mats. 2 gyms. Kill me!! It actually wasn't that bad because we only brought 11 guys and there were 2 of us (I have a student helper) to cover all their matches so it worked fairly well. We were seperated a fair amount of the morning but then around lunchtime, we started covering everything together because some of our guys started getting eliminated.
What made everything even MORE fun was when I woke up, I started being really itchy all over my neck and realized that I had broken out in hives all over my neck and shoulders. I still don't know exactly why but I assume it was the hotel soap or something. Anyways, I took some benadryl because I had to stop itching. However, this made me SUPER tired. Around 1pm, we had a lull for a half hour and I completely fell asleep. It was awesome. I took the medicine around 6am... Fast forward to 10pm. That is when we finally finished all our matches (our best kid took 2nd in the amateur division) and loaded on the best. I popped another benadryl, ate some pizza and passed on that bus (Yeah, you read that right. I freakin slept the whole way home!!!) We stopped in Salina again on the way home to re-fuel and use the bathroom. I did so and then fell right back to sleep. We got back to Edmond at 6am. And yes, I did go back to sleep when I got home.
More of this story: take benadryl to sleep on buses. Also, don't use hotel soap. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Thank goodness for Thanksgiving so I get a week break from that bus! Then it's right back into it!
It's all in the life of an athletic trainer!
Left Edmond at 8:30am. Stopped in Salina, KS (4 hrs into trip, halfway) for lunch @ Subway. Arrived in Omaha at 5:00 pm. Checked in to Hotel, got settled. Went to practice at University of Nebraska at Omaha (which is kind of a creepy school at night, no lights and it is in a forest...) then came home and waited for the guys to shower before dinner. Went to Perkins around 7:30pm. Perkins is awesome!! I haven't been since MN/MI but it was bomb and I was SUPER hungery by the time we ate so it was even better. Went back, got ready for bed and fell asleep.
Wake up call at 5:15am. Then started the longest day EVER!! There were 30 schools (12 Division 1) at this tournament. 730 something wrestlers. 15 mats. 2 gyms. Kill me!! It actually wasn't that bad because we only brought 11 guys and there were 2 of us (I have a student helper) to cover all their matches so it worked fairly well. We were seperated a fair amount of the morning but then around lunchtime, we started covering everything together because some of our guys started getting eliminated.
What made everything even MORE fun was when I woke up, I started being really itchy all over my neck and realized that I had broken out in hives all over my neck and shoulders. I still don't know exactly why but I assume it was the hotel soap or something. Anyways, I took some benadryl because I had to stop itching. However, this made me SUPER tired. Around 1pm, we had a lull for a half hour and I completely fell asleep. It was awesome. I took the medicine around 6am... Fast forward to 10pm. That is when we finally finished all our matches (our best kid took 2nd in the amateur division) and loaded on the best. I popped another benadryl, ate some pizza and passed on that bus (Yeah, you read that right. I freakin slept the whole way home!!!) We stopped in Salina again on the way home to re-fuel and use the bathroom. I did so and then fell right back to sleep. We got back to Edmond at 6am. And yes, I did go back to sleep when I got home.
More of this story: take benadryl to sleep on buses. Also, don't use hotel soap. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Thank goodness for Thanksgiving so I get a week break from that bus! Then it's right back into it!
It's all in the life of an athletic trainer!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
One Down...
So I survived the first road tournament! We only had one casualty also so I consider that successful.
We left Friday around 11:30am and pulled into the hotel around 7:30pm due to some construction and traffic. We got some time to get settled, which I used to do some rehab/treatments and then we met back up at 8:30 to drive up to the school for an hour long practice (where the guys worked out to drop weight) This time was spent doing some more rehab and hoping my injured guys did not hurt themselves before the tournament even started! Note: I am a worrier, wrestling and I are not necessarily a match made in heaven...
After practice we grabbed some Arby's (Ew) and went back to the hotel. I did another round of treatments and then crawled into bed around 11:30pm. I had not slept on the bus, despite my best efforts and being drugged (I am getting over an upper respiratory infection) so I immediately fell asleep.
Wake up was at 6:15am. The bus left for the school at 7:00, Weigh-ins and skin checks were at 8:00, wrestling started at 10:00. I was so tired and I wanted to cry. I entertained myself part of the time with a movie and then I called my Dad...I was mostly just bored. But then wrestling started and I did get a break until we left at 8:00. I luckily did get a chance to eat lunch this week though. Last week I wasn't so lucky.
We stopped at Wendy's after we packed up and iced up and then we started the drive home! I got back to my apartment at 2:00am this morning! I am still super tired because I can not sleep on that stupid bus to save my life but I am determined to find a way! I also plan on investing in a potable DVD player so I can entertain myself!
As far as wrestling goes, I am beginning to understand the sport and it's fun to cheer for all my guys! We will see how the rest of the season goes but for now it's not so bad. For now, my biggest problem is covering multiple matches at one time. We had ten mats going at once yesterday. But, I am superwoman so it's no big deal.
Just a day in the life of an athletic trainer. :o)
We left Friday around 11:30am and pulled into the hotel around 7:30pm due to some construction and traffic. We got some time to get settled, which I used to do some rehab/treatments and then we met back up at 8:30 to drive up to the school for an hour long practice (where the guys worked out to drop weight) This time was spent doing some more rehab and hoping my injured guys did not hurt themselves before the tournament even started! Note: I am a worrier, wrestling and I are not necessarily a match made in heaven...
After practice we grabbed some Arby's (Ew) and went back to the hotel. I did another round of treatments and then crawled into bed around 11:30pm. I had not slept on the bus, despite my best efforts and being drugged (I am getting over an upper respiratory infection) so I immediately fell asleep.
Wake up was at 6:15am. The bus left for the school at 7:00, Weigh-ins and skin checks were at 8:00, wrestling started at 10:00. I was so tired and I wanted to cry. I entertained myself part of the time with a movie and then I called my Dad...I was mostly just bored. But then wrestling started and I did get a break until we left at 8:00. I luckily did get a chance to eat lunch this week though. Last week I wasn't so lucky.
We stopped at Wendy's after we packed up and iced up and then we started the drive home! I got back to my apartment at 2:00am this morning! I am still super tired because I can not sleep on that stupid bus to save my life but I am determined to find a way! I also plan on investing in a potable DVD player so I can entertain myself!
As far as wrestling goes, I am beginning to understand the sport and it's fun to cheer for all my guys! We will see how the rest of the season goes but for now it's not so bad. For now, my biggest problem is covering multiple matches at one time. We had ten mats going at once yesterday. But, I am superwoman so it's no big deal.
Just a day in the life of an athletic trainer. :o)
Saturday, November 6, 2010
And They're Off!
Well it has begun. Wrestling season has officially started. We had our intra-squad dual on Wednesday night and it was pretty entertaining and went off without a hitch.
Tomorrow we have a tournament in OKC all day and then next weekend I will be traveling to the thrilling state of Missouri for a big tournament there. YIPEE! (note: that last statement was said with heaps of sarcasm)
We are currently wrestling at about 3/4 capacity. This week my second wrestler of the season is having surgery (torn labrum). I also found out yesterday that I was right, one of my boys does have compartment syndrome. It feels great to be validated but not at the expense of one of my athletes... Just saying.
Well there will be plenty more to tell everyone after next weekend when I get back from my first road trip. Can't wait. (more sarcasm) Now I have to go cover a basketball game for Simon. You SO owe me!
Just another day in the life of an athletic trainer! :o)
Tomorrow we have a tournament in OKC all day and then next weekend I will be traveling to the thrilling state of Missouri for a big tournament there. YIPEE! (note: that last statement was said with heaps of sarcasm)
We are currently wrestling at about 3/4 capacity. This week my second wrestler of the season is having surgery (torn labrum). I also found out yesterday that I was right, one of my boys does have compartment syndrome. It feels great to be validated but not at the expense of one of my athletes... Just saying.
Well there will be plenty more to tell everyone after next weekend when I get back from my first road trip. Can't wait. (more sarcasm) Now I have to go cover a basketball game for Simon. You SO owe me!
Just another day in the life of an athletic trainer! :o)
Friday, October 29, 2010
Injuries For Everyone!
Wrestling season officially begins on Wednesday with our annual inter-squad dual. It's called the bronze and blue. How original huh? Anyways, OU will always be coming up to hold their red and white that night as well in our gym also. I can't weight...(corny wrestling pun intended)
The fact that the season is so soon may be contributing to whatever is going on in my stomach( see my other blog) because it seems like half my team is hurt right now. Here is a little run down for ya:
- Two diagnosed labrum tears in the shoulder and a third that I am fairly certain of
- Possible compartment syndrome
- A subluxed shoulder that may have torn part of the pec in the process
- Two kids in boots - one for a high ankle sprain that wont heal and one for REALLY bad shin splints/ bruised muscle
- One kid who separated cartilage in his ribs
- One kid who just had his meniscus repaired
That's about all the big stuff I can think of but you get my point. Aren't I lucky?
Just another day in the life of an athletic trainer.
The fact that the season is so soon may be contributing to whatever is going on in my stomach( see my other blog) because it seems like half my team is hurt right now. Here is a little run down for ya:
- Two diagnosed labrum tears in the shoulder and a third that I am fairly certain of
- Possible compartment syndrome
- A subluxed shoulder that may have torn part of the pec in the process
- Two kids in boots - one for a high ankle sprain that wont heal and one for REALLY bad shin splints/ bruised muscle
- One kid who separated cartilage in his ribs
- One kid who just had his meniscus repaired
That's about all the big stuff I can think of but you get my point. Aren't I lucky?
Just another day in the life of an athletic trainer.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Get Your Mind Right!
Ok, in case anyone does not know, I work with the wrestling team at UCO. And although it is a totally knew experience, it is also kinda fun. I really like being in charge of my own sport and it is interesting learning a new one. There are challenges and there is definitely a steep learning curve.
Anyways, as everyone knows, wrestlers are kind of a rare breed. However, I have to hand it to them, they are some tough guys. They are a lot like rugby players: crazy and they play with no fear. These guys twist into the most unnatural positions during practice and put so much strain on their bodies. They are perpetually injured and yet, they push through. They have to. They are expected to.
And that is where the problem lies. At least for me.
I disagree with that philosophy. If there is a kid who has a torn labrum and is going to need surgery to fix it, what good does it do him to just fight through the pain, wrestle mediocre at best and waste a spot on the mat when he could have surgery, take a year off and come back healthy next year? Anyone? Anyone?? Yeah, I thought so...
Just another day in the life of an athletic trainer. :o)
Anyways, as everyone knows, wrestlers are kind of a rare breed. However, I have to hand it to them, they are some tough guys. They are a lot like rugby players: crazy and they play with no fear. These guys twist into the most unnatural positions during practice and put so much strain on their bodies. They are perpetually injured and yet, they push through. They have to. They are expected to.
And that is where the problem lies. At least for me.
I disagree with that philosophy. If there is a kid who has a torn labrum and is going to need surgery to fix it, what good does it do him to just fight through the pain, wrestle mediocre at best and waste a spot on the mat when he could have surgery, take a year off and come back healthy next year? Anyone? Anyone?? Yeah, I thought so...
Just another day in the life of an athletic trainer. :o)
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