A Place For Our Students to Shine... - Christian Brothers High School

Each day as school ends, as many
as 17 students report to the athletic
training room at Christian Brothers
High School. They are not there
to have ankles taped or rehabilitate
injuries; they are there to learn to tape
ankles and assist athletes needing care
before practice and during games.
Darci Stark, ATC, the school’s certified
athletic trainer and physical education
teacher facilitates an after-school
athletic training program that includes
lessons in anatomy, exercise physiology,
biomechanics, injury prevention and
recognition as well as the importance of
proper hydration and nutrition.
“This program is a great way to
introduce our students to the world of
athletic training and in a small degree,
sports medicine,” says Stark. “As an
athletic trainer, I work hard to ensure
the health and well-being of our student
athletes. The student trainers take it
seriously and come in here to learn.
They are a tremendous help before and
during games and they really are extra
pairs of eyes for me in keeping track
of our student athletes in the various
sports.”
The program, which is open to
all CB students, requires participants
to commit to three hours each week
in the athletic training room for every
week during the fall, winter or spring
seasons. Before hitting the field or the
court, student athletic trainers must
master a number of skills and complete
a detailed level-one checksheet created
by Stark. After working as a student
athletic trainer for one year, students
can enroll in an independent study
course which includes extensive book
work, reading, and a number of labs.
One former participant, Stephanie
Gabrielli ’07, is now studying
kinesiology at C.S.U. Sacramento and
was recently accepted into the school’s
Athletic Training Education Program.
Gabrielli, who arranged to participate in
an internship at CB, regularly joins in on
classes after school and fills in for Stark
when scheduling conflicts arise.
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“I joined the athletic training
program in my sophomore year at CB,”
says Gabrielli. “As a four-sport athlete,
I had been spending a lot of time in
the training room because of injuries.
When I first met Darci, I didn’t like her
at all because she wouldn’t let me play,”
laughs Gabrielli. “But, the more I was
there and the more I learned, I knew
that this is what I wanted to do with my
life.”
Natalie Hastings ’11, enjoys
the time she spends with Stark and
appreciates the opportunity to learn
more. “Ms. Stark is so knowledgeable
and she relates to us in a way that we are
learning and having fun,” says Hastings.
“The athletic training program definitely
inspired me and I hope to be able to
study nursing at St. Mary’s College.”
Alanna Anderson ’11, says her time
spent as an athletic trainer affirmed
her desire to study medicine. “I had
considered studying medicine,” says
Anderson. “This program showed me
that it really is possible for me to pursue
Daija Tillman ’14 has her ankle taped before the
women’s junior varsity basketball game.
Left - CB Athletic Trainer Darci Stark helping a
student rehabilitate a shoulder injury.