When people think of highschool athletic practices, they often think of players scrimmaging against teammates, lifting in the weightroom, and repetitive drillwork. What’s easily forgotten is the training room: a place for athletes to get assistance with injury prevention, evaluation and rehabilitation.

Nicole Walkup is one of two full time trainers at Lincoln East, along with Mac McCuiston. She has been a certified athletic trainer since 2013 and helps treat 60 to 80 student athletes daily.

Walkup decided to become an athletic trainer after suffering from a torn ACL in high school, as she worked with her school’s athletic trainer as a student aide. She finds her role as an East athletic trainer vital for Spartan sports.

“We are able to encourage athletes and help them overcome adversity,” Walkup said. “As an athletic trainer, it is very rewarding to help an athlete return to their sport after an injury.”

One benefit of the training room is that it’s a free resource available for students, yet includes services similar to many doctor’s offices. Injury prevention and rehabilitation methods include concussion management, first aid and wound care, injury assessment, along with weather monitoring and water for practices and games.

Nebraska Wesleyan student Aubree Bridge is student training at Lincoln East. She began her clinical assignment in August, and will be here until November. Under the guidance of Mac McCuiston and Nicole Walkup, she is learning valuable skills before starting her own career in sports training.

“My favorite thing about student training at East is the environment,” Bridge said. “My preceptors make opportunities for me to be exposed to new experiences, making it easier to take more knowledge home with me each day that I can apply in real-life situations.”

Next time you’re at a volleyball match, football game, or cross country meet, keep your eyes peeled for our wonderful trainers. While they often go unnoticed, they play a crucial role in the sports that us as Spartan’s take pride in.