Age: 21
Hometown: Carrabasset Valley, Maine
Class: Senior
Perched effortlessly on the arm of one of the many couches in her house, she sips a can of San Pellegrino Limonata. She wears a loose top and leggings.

You came to Whitman for the Division I skiing, how did you get started with Sports Medicine?

When I prospied at Whitman, I spent my time with two of the women’s ski team members who also both happened to be athletic trainers, so I got to see the [athletic training] program then. That was actually two years before I came to Whitman since I took a gap year to go skiing. I also want to become a physical therapist so the classes and working in the training room fit in well with my goal. I wanted to take the class when I first got to Whitman but wasn’t able to because of conflicts until first semester sophomore year. Second semester when I took the advanced class with Brooke [Kennedy], who was then the athletic trainer, I actually got to start working.

How did the ski team being cut affect what you do in the training room?

After the team got cut I had a lot more time to do training and go to games, although I still travel every weekend in the winter with the club Alpine team. I just work Mondays and Tuesdays in the training room during that time.

So what exactly do you have to do in order to become a Student Trainer?

You have to take the beginning Sports Medicine class and then you can actually work, but most people take the advanced class as well because they’re interested in the subject. You also have to be CPR certified.

What is your favorite part of being a Student Trainer?

[Smiling] Well obviously I don’t like when people get hurt but it’s really cool to watch the trainers do injury evals so that you can learn what to do. Learning all the different types of taping for ankles is fun too. Icing isn’t that great, but you get to meet all these athletes so actually that might be the best part.

What do you plan to do after Whitman?  

I want to take a year off to get more experience. Physical Therapy school requires a lot of experience hours and the hours I get here don’t actually count since they’re not with an actual Physical Therapist[rolls her eyes]. I’m an econ major with a bio minor so I have all the pre-recs. I just need the hours. Of course I want to ski too.

Do you have any exciting plans this weekend?

[With a big smile] Yeah I’m going to the [Pendleton] round-up, I’m really excited! I’ve never been to a rodeo and I think we’re going to spend the night and discover the night life. I have two tests coming up this week and I’ve been struggling with whether or not to go, but it’s a chance I might not get again.