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Sports Medicine began at San Marin High School three years ago for students who want to pursue a career in athletic-based medical fields such as kinesiology, athletic training, and sports medicine.
“[Students] learn about muscle anatomy, bone anatomy, as well as different types of injuries to different joints and how to treat them as well,” San Marin athletic trainer and Sports Medicine teacher Brendan Graber said.
The Sports Medicine program provides two classes, Sports Med 1 and Sports Med 2, both taught by Graber. Graber has been working at San Marin for 10 years as a trainer and three years as a teacher. As the athletic trainer, he attends most games on the sidelines, assisting injured players, helping to evaluate, prevent, and diagnose sports-related injuries. He also helps the students with physical therapy if deemed necessary.
Over the past couple of years, Sports Medicine has rapidly been picking up speed across campus.
“I think it’s gaining popularity because the athletes who know Brendan know he’s a great guy and he could teach them a lot about what he does best,” junior Bryce Nottingham said. “His effect on the students is showing in the way that they act on and off the field.”
Because most of the students in these classes are athletes, a lot of them take this class to benefit themselves in the sports they play.
“We have so many dedicated student athletes at San Marin, and they want to learn how to better their performance and become better athletes as well as learn about things they’re interested in,” Graber said.
Another reason this class is gaining popularity is that it does a lot of hands-on activities. The most popular and fan favorite is taping, but others include emergency response and first aid, physical assessments and evaluations, rehabilitation and conditioning.
“Brendan is a well-liked and respected adult by everyone on campus,” junior Brianna Nottingham said. “He truly helps each person with sports lives and personal lives, and becoming a teacher while already being deeply appreciated by the entire campus was great.”
What started as a new class three years ago has now become one of the most sought after classes on San Marin’s campus. Between hands-on work and the influence of a role model on campus, Sports Med at San Marin is proving that education is not just about passing a test, but applying knowledge to real-world situations.
