500 student trainers invade OHS

They sit and wait, hoping their skills will not be needed. But when they are needed, they represent the most important people on the field.

It’s time for those who perpetually line the sidelines to share a little limelight.

The 12th Annual Washington Vocational Sports Medicine Association Competition and Symposium began yesterday and continues today at Olympic High School, bringing together student athletic trainers and sports medicine students from four states to test their knowledge of ACLs and MCLs, sprains and splints, rotator cuffs and rehabilitations.

Nearly 500 students from Washington, Oregon, Kansas and Texas began activities Friday at OHS, starting with the school’s mock crash presentation. In addition to observing the mock crash, students also participated in the Airlift Northwest run that followed.

Students also toured Silverdale’s Benik Corporation, which specializes in Neoprene protective devices, led by president Tim Baumgartner and vice president Dan Baumgartner.

And it was all before the opening ceremonies.

With area schools including Central Kitsap, Olympic and Klahowya in attendance, as well as county cohorts such as South Kitsap, a seven-time champion, the competition will be intensive as well as informative.

“Olympic has had a sports medicine program for the past 15 years which is one of the few schools that started a sports medicine program,” said Scott Peck, OHS sports medicine instructor/certified athletic trainer. “We have competed in the sports medicine competition for the past nine years and have placed in the top five or better seven of those.”

This is the first time Olympic has hosted the competition.

Events also will include a series of speakers, highlighted by Dr. Dan Diamond, a Silverdale resident who also was a Hurricane Katrina volunteer. The competition portion will include both written and oral practical examinations. Students also will participate in forums and discussions.

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