SLU Athletic Training Student Experiences Life as a High School Athletic Trainer

By: Jeremy Gries (MAT Class of 2025)

    My clinical assignment at De Smet Jesuit High School has been a positive learning experience. At De Smet, I am able to practice many of the skills that I am learning in the classroom, such as wound care, modalities, taping, and manual therapy. I also assist my preceptor, Alex Brody ATC, with injury evaluations and rehabilitation. I've enjoyed building strong bonds with the athletes I work with daily. These connections are what make athletic training so special for me. My time at De Smet has positively impacted my growth as a professional in this field.

    This experience taught me how vital it is to make decisions on the spot, think on your feet, and juggle multiple tasks as an athletic trainer. These abilities aren't typically taught in the classroom but are honed through real-world practice in a clinical setting. I'm thankful to De Smet Jesuit and the SLU AT Program for allowing me to sharpen these skills in this setting.

This is one of a series of posts authored by students enrolled in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program. The number of clinical sites, the quality and diversity of the clinical experience opportunities, and the contemporary expertise of our preceptors are strengths of the CAATE Accredited SLU AT Program.