Cami Aochi, Ashley Legerretta, Talia Gallina and Kelly Johnson, all student athletes at Venice High, have been trained to be student athletic trainers. They learned about the program from Kirsten Farrell, the certified athletic trainer at Venice High School, who also works for West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation and Team to Win. The four girls attended this sports medicine program over the summer funded by the sports medicine foundation WCSMF. They learned about athletic training, the human body, and skills a trainer needs to do his or her job. Farrell’s job is mainly to help players with major injuries, rehabilitation, and complicated strengthening techniques, while supervising the girls.

These four female athletes wait on the players during every football game, along with the night practices on Wednesdays, just in case a student gets hurt. They also attend to JV football players, and girls volleyball players. They will start attending boys baseball games as well as other sports during the spring semester.

Aochi, a Venice soccer player, hopes to be accepted to the athletic training program at the University of Texas, as well as continuing to play soccer. “Texas is a great school with excellent athletics, especially football. I love going to football games, and I think this atmosphere will be a good fit for me. I just hope I can keep my grades up, trying to balance college life and athletic training”.

Aochi, along with Gallina, Legerretta and Johnson had to take anatomy classes during the summer in preparation to be a student trainer for the upcoming high school football season. “The classes weren’t that bad, even though they were four hours! We had good teachers,” said Aochi. “The thing that’s the worst is taping some guys’ ankles who don’t really take care of their feet!”

Legerretta is a part of Venice’s sports medicine program as well as a top volleyball prospect for the state of California. She wants to attend San Diego State, continuing with volleyball and hopefully becoming a part of the college’s athletic training program. “ Right now I’m really focused on volleyball. Our team is doing really well. I hope I’ll be able to play volleyball and be a part of San Diego State’s athletic training program, and at the same time (be) successful at both.”

Senior softball player Talia Gallina says she’s having the most fun this year. “I love sports and I’m so happy that I signed up for this program,” she said. “Being able to do what professionals do is so much fun. I’ve learned so much about the human body over the summer!”

During the four-hour classes, the girls went down to Manhattan Beach at the Team to Win injury rehabilitation office and were taught by Myles Hirayama as well as other athletic trainers. Myles works as the Coordinator of Injury rehabilitation for athletic training at Team to Win in Manhattan Beach. The girls learned different techniques used to heal certain injuries, such as how to wrap ice on certain parts of the body, and how to tape ankles, and wrists; also how to massage tight muscles while applying muscle relaxant.

Johnson is another student athletic trainer. Johnson played soccer two years ago. Now, she is an accomplished surfer. Every Friday night, Johnson comes to the game dressed and ready to get down to tape ankles, stretch guys, and apply muscle relaxant to tight muscles. “The fanny packs we wear are kinda weird, but we’re not trying to impress anybody,” she explained.

Aochi’s grandfather, Mr. Amamoto built two new training tables for the Venice program. He built them out of two by four-inch wood planks; he also added padding on the tables. “These tables are nicer than you would find in a college program,” Farrell said. This shows how dedicated the students and their families are to this program, and how they’re willing to do anything to make this a successful year.

“ These four girls are hard workers and really fun to be with,” said Farrell. “Every Friday night is a new experience, we all learn from each other. I have been very impressed by the girls dedication and ability to handle all aspects of the job. I really hope their careers as athletic trainers don’t end here.”

Rounding out the sports medicine team for Venice High School are Dr. Hohl and Dr. Murray. Dr. Hohl is one of the most prestigious pediatric orthopedic surgeons in Los Angeles, and Dr. Murray is a well-respected chiropractor in Santa Monica. These two gentlemen have dedicated countless hours to the care of the student athletes and have been instrumental in adding to the girl’s student athletic training experience. “We’re extremely lucky to have two of the best involved with our school,” said Farrell.