Behind the Scenes: The Vital Role of Student Trainers  

By: Alexia LaTourette 

February 5, 2025

   While students watch Colgan's athletic events, the majority of the focus is on the players, but little know about the actions taken to help these athletes perform to their fullest potential. Student trainers at Colgan play a key role in the athletic department. These students are learning first-hand what it means to be a sports trainer and putting their knowledge to use. 

   Athletic trainer, Killian Flynn advises the Sports Medicine club, and he has sponsored this club since he arrived in 2023.  

   “I want students to learn about careers in sports medicine as well as see what some sports injuries look like,” Flynn said. Flynn said his favorite part of the club is getting to know the members and helping each of them achieve their future goals. 

   The club holds clinical hours where the members of the club assist and observe Mr. Flynn. During these hours, members learn about different injuries and develop an understanding of what needs to be done in various situations. The student trainers get firsthand opportunities to ask questions and work with a diverse range of athletic injuries. 

   “It [the club] taught me a lot more about how injuries happen and how to deal with them,” said 26’ Aurora Beckett. “It also taught me how much observation goes into it. Having to see an athlete at their hardest moments is the hardest part of this club.” At clinic hour Beckett said she learns how much observation must be done to athletes, to fully assess and provide comfort to injuries. Beckett said she sees a future in the medical field and has grown to enjoy the club and its members, since joining her freshmen year. 

   Beckett said she worked with a variety of teams like soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and softball. Overall, she said her favorite was lacrosse because prior to joining the club she had very little knowledge on the sport, and she learned not only about the medical aspects, but she also learned more about the rules of the sport. 

   These student trainers get hands on experience to further their knowledge and develop a foundational understanding of the basis of athletic training.