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Head athletic trainer Ashleigh Harris checks on football player Josh Wallace during one of the scrimmages this past fall. Harris joined Ouachita’s athletics staff during the pandemic. (photo by Abby Blankenship)

Athletic training month celebrates trainers

BY SAMANTHA PIPKIN

Staff Writer

The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) is the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession.

According to NATA’s website, “National Athletic Training Month is held every March in order to spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers. In addition to providing logos, posters, press releases, sample media alerts and PR toolkits….”

NATA helps “to represent, engage and foster the continued growth and development of the athletic training profession and athletic trainers as unique healthcare providers.”

Most people do not think about the people behind the scenes of their favorite sports teams. NATA helps give recognition and support to the trainers who take care of athletes. It also gives them an opportunity to share their stories.

Madison Montgomery, a senior from Cypress, Texas, is an athletic trainer for Ouachita football.

“Being a trainer means being someone who can be the first responder for athletes who get injured and help them on their way back to recovery,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery began her journey toward becoming a trainer in high school and has grown in the field with her education and experience at Ouachita. “I did help in high school with the baseball, softball and soccer teams,” Montgomery said. “I lettered in this when in high school and have made great contacts for the future in the field.”

Montgomery has also had the chance to help Ouachita’s head athletic trainer with a rehabilitation. “The most memorable time I’ve had here at Ouachita is getting to work more with the athletes than I got to in high school,” Montgomery said.

This role means a lot to Montgomery because it provides her with a different goal to meet every time she walks into the training room.

In the past year, Ouachita hired Ashleigh Harris as its new head athletic trainer. Harris has worked for the athletics department as a trainer since 2017, but she was promoted in 2020.

“My favorite part about working for OBU has been the people I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know,” Harris said. “ I remember, after my interview, feeling extremely welcome.”

Harris has been working hard since sports started back up again, but she has faced some challenges.

“I think the biggest challenge I’ve had thus far was transitioning from an assistant athletic trainer to the head athletic trainer, especially in the middle of a pandemic,” Harris said. “It has been a wonderful experience, and I am truly blessed for the opportunity as it has made me a better clinician.”

Even with the challanges that Harris has faced due to COVID-19, she continues to feel excited and grateful for her job and the future of her career.

“The most exciting aspect of my career is that I am able to help student-athletes to be the best they can be and get the opportunity to watch them overcome adversity. The opportunity to watch sports daily and help people is something to get excited about,” Harris said.

For more information on National Athletic Training Month, visit www.nata.org to learn more about the organization’s mission.