THE MAKINGS OF A GENTLEMAN

M

ANTHROPOLOGIE

EMBELLISH

GOODMAN COFFEE

HEMLINE

J. CREW

LULULEMON ATHLETICA

MADEWELL

ONWARD RESERVE

PUBLIC HOUSE

REVIVAL

THAT GLASSES GUY

THE COSMETIC MARKET

THE SOCIAL

TUPELO HONEY CAFE

TWO TEN JACK

WILD HONEY HAIR STUDIO

YVES DELORME 1

How did you get into athletic training? I have such a love for sports and grew up in a family that was all about playing sports. I also have had my fair share of injuries, which got me closer to my high school athletic trainer. In the end, I decided to be an AT because I wanted to be around athletes regularly and witnessed the impact my trainer had on the athletic department at my high school.

What is the No. 1 thing you enjoy about your job? Getting an athlete back playing the sport they love after an injury. Many athletes have their identity in their sport, so when that gets taken away even for a brief time, it can be very difficult for them to process.

What teams do you work with? I currently work with baseball, tennis, men’s soccer, and men’s track. I also work at Tellico Plains High School during the footballa season, and I have worked with the Knoxville Ice Bears, Meigs County High School football, and Cleveland Middle School athletics in the past. Every team I have worked with has its own personality and culture, and I’ve been fortunate to interact with athletes from all over the world including Ireland, Russia, Argentina, South Africa, Curaçao, Canada, and many more.

Describe what your average day looks like. Throughout the day, I have appointments for my athletes for treatment, rehab, injury evaluation, and I also get them ready for practice. Outside of scheduled appointments, I’ll perform administrative responsibilities such as documenting injuries and rehab notes, working with insurance claims, scheduling doctor appointments, and communicating with coaches. I also cover practices and games.

What's the most challenging aspect of being an athletic trainer? The most rewarding? Being an athletic trainer means long hours, and it can be very frustrating to deal with insurance claims. Coaches can also present a challenge in that each one has a different standard and expectation when it comes to injuries and sports medicine, and they aren’t always realistic. On the other hand, being a part of a team’s success and the relationships you build with colleagues and athletes can be extremely rewarding.

What is the most memorable moment of your athletic training career? So far, it is being a part of the 2022 Tennessee Wesleyan University baseball team earning a bid to the 2022 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Is there anything you'd like to add? Athletic trainers are some of the most misunderstood and underappreciated allied health professionals. We do a lot more behind the scenes than most people realize, including our athletes. If you do not know an athletic trainer, get to know one, and if you do know one, thanking them for all the work they do would go a long way.