The state of the MC athletic training: understaffed and overwhelmed
Last academic year, Maryville College athletics had four athletic trainers. However, this year, MC only has two athletic trainers: Jenny Massey and Caleb Johnston, which has created a shortage of support for athletes.
Athletic Director Andrew Wu said the Athletic Department currently has job postings to fill the two vacant athletic trainer positions; however, he said the school was not able to hire anyone over the summer.
“Our two athletic trainers, Jenny and Caleb, are stepping up bigtime to make sure being temporarily understaffed has the smallest impact possible on students. We’re all extremely appreciative of everything they’re doing,” Wu said.
Wu said that one of MC’s previous athletic trainers has been working part-time as needed to help with the current understaffing. He also said Prisma Health has been providing athletic trainers when Massey and Johnston are not available.
Massey, director of athletic training, said that the struggle for athletic trainers goes much further than MC’s campus.
“Athletic training departments across the country are struggling to be fully staffed. Every school in our conference is currently short-staffed,” Massey said. “We have posted the open positions on several websites, and unfortunately, we have not successfully found qualified candidates to fill the positions.”
Massey said that athletic trainers are on campus for every athletic event, and there are staff members on campus for every practice. She also said that they still offer treatment and rehabilitation services to student-athletes during the day.
“While our staff situation is less than ideal, we are doing our best and continue to provide care to the student-athletes of Maryville College,” Massey said.
Tia Stewart (‘27), a softball player at MC who works for the athletic trainers, said that the current athletic trainers are doing the best they can. She said that they are always the first to arrive at athletic events, two to three hours early, and the last to leave – making sure athletes have ice and that everything is put away for the next day.
“As college athletes, they are our first response to injury, even the small bumps and bruises,” Stewart said. “The wonderful trainers we have now are doing their best, working together to be there for us every day.”
Softball player Jacey Goetzinger (‘28) shared her experience with the lack of athletic trainers as an athlete with a current injury.
“I’m not able to see the trainers as often to get treatment, and I have to walk across campus after practice in order to get ice,” Goetzinger said.
Goetzinger also said she feels like, with the lack of athletic trainers, that some sports get more priority. She said that more “popular” sports, such as football and soccer, get more priority and resources than softball and other “less popular” sports.
“They also try to prioritize sports that are currently in season, though I don’t know how much they actually stick to that,” Goetzinger said.
Despite this, Goetzinger said that the current athletic trainers are doing the best they can in the current situation. She said that she appreciates all that they do.
“Absolutely none of this is the fault of our current athletic trainers, and I know they’re working extremely hard to make sure that everyone is taken care of,” Goetzinger said.
Calliana Kondolios (‘28), a women’s tennis player at MC, shared her opinions on the current situation with athletic trainers.
Kondolios said that she also believes that some sports get prioritized over others; however, she believes that it makes sense, given that they cannot be everywhere at once.
“The trainers are working nonstop to help everyone,” Kondolios said. “They’re doing their best.”
Kondolios also expressed her appreciation for the athletic trainers and all that they do.
“They care a lot and work super hard,” Kondolios said.
Headshot of Athletic Trainer Caleb Johnston. (Photo Courtesy of Maryville College.)
Headshot of Director of Athletic Training Jenny Massey.
(Photo Courtesy of Maryville College.)