Athletic Trainer Jess Gaburo helps volleyball player Arnelle Akakpo. Lily Engel/ The Whetstone

Athletic Trainer Jess Gaburo helps volleyball player Arnelle Akakpo.
Lily Engel/ The Whetstone

By Lily Engel,  The Whetstone

Many athletes at Wesley College said they are frustrated about the lack of trainers available in the training room in the basement of the gym.

There are only two trainers available for hundreds of athletes.

“It’s a burden to the athletes,” said Kayla Fromal, captain of the field hockey team. “It’s more difficult because I have to work with all the schedules of the trainers and other athletes.”

Sophomore basketball player Chris Scott also said it’s hard to coordinate the times.

“Every team is either playing or training right now and there’s no way everyone can be treated and taken care of properly with just Brandon and Jess,” he said. “There’s hundreds of kids in athletics and there should be at least four or five on staff during the school day.”

The two trainers – Jess Gaburo and Brandon Sonson – are swamped with players trying to get treatment before practice or games. The highest demand comes between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“Last year worked out really well, having four certified trainers,” Jess Gaburo said. “We’ve had students coming in, helping out and if someone comes in willing to work, that would be great.”

Athletic Trainer Jess Gaburo helps volleyball player Arnelle Akakpo. Lily Engel/ The Whetstone

Athletic Trainer Jess Gaburo helps volleyball player Arnelle Akakpo.
Lily Engel/ The Whetstone

Although it is crowded and busy, Guburo said that does not stop them from making sure athletes get proper treatment.

“I feel that we’re providing the coverage and adequate treatment but we could be doing more especially with post surgical patients, we could be working with them more in house,” she said.

Gaburo and Sonson said that communication is key when dealing with so many sports at a time. Some sports need more time than others because of heavier roster sizes. Football, for example, takes up most of their time. While one trainer attends football practice and games, the other works to maintain the other sports.

“They’re always at the practices and games,” said Morgan Seymour, president of the student athletic association committee, which promotes sports events and fund raising. “They are always available to talk about anything so they’re really good at letting us know of any changes in scheduling.”

Seymour said Gaburo and Sonson do a fine job.

“But those that have taken treatment classes could possible talk to Jess about volunteering their time with taping or making ice bags,” she said.