SPORTS NEWS
Game Changers
Athletic Trainers Keep Student Athletes Safe, Healthy and Supported Through athletics, students learn the value of teamwork, competition and hard work, as well as how to deal with failure and adversity. Our dedicated athletic trainers — Mr. Ken Kuberski, Ms. Amanda McCombs and Dr. Mary Barron ’95 — put in long hours to help safeguard the physical well-being and competitive spirit of student athletes at Paul VI.
Meet the Trainers Ken Kuberski has been at PVI for over 30 years and currently serves in two roles: Associate Director of Athletics and Head Athletic Trainer. He graduated from James Madison University. Amanda McCombs joined the PVI staff in 2020 as a full-time Athletic Trainer. She graduated from George Mason University. Mary Barron ’95 works part-time at PVI; she returned to PVI in 2013 as an Athletic Trainer. She is a full-time associate professor at George Washington University. Barron attended Longwood College (now Longwood University) where she continued her athletic career as a Lady Lancer Women’s Basketball player. She continued her education at Michigan State University.
What is a typical day like for our athletic trainers? According to the athletic trainers, there is no typical day! Every day and every season is different. Whether teams leave early for away games or have home games in the afternoon, the athletic trainers prepare and make sure they are ready to compete. This may consist of diagnosing injuries, performing vital on-field/court/mat injury evaluations and immediate first aid care, or rehabilitating injuries The athletic trainers help evaluate whether an athlete is ready to compete or practice or if they need more time to recover.
High Traffic Area By design, Paul VI has a bigger athletic training room than many schools in the area. The space is where the athletic trainers evaluate and rehabilitate injuries. The athletic training room is outfitted with treatment tables, taping stations, exercise and rehabilitative equipment, and a hydration and cooling tub to help with heat related issues. Students can visit the athletic training room by appointment as early as 1:30 p.m., with 3 p.m. being the busiest time of day. After the bell rings, the athletic trainers help students get ready for practice or games. On average, the athletic trainers can see between 10-15 students leaving for an away game and another 20-30 students after school. On a very busy day, they can see up to 50-60 students after school! In a year, they go through about 80 cases (over 2,500 rolls) of athletic tape. Around 4:30 p.m. and into the evening, the athletic trainers attend all home games, where they observe on the sidelines, looking out for potential injuries, ready to step in and address any emergencies for either team. There are often competitions on Saturdays so the trainers frequently work during the weekend as well. 18
PANTHER TRACKS Fall/Winter 2023
