Student Trainers Under Wraps

by Chandler Thomas
11.14.07

Walking into a room filled with tape, wraps, ice and even whirlpools is the privilege of many athletic trainers. Certified athletic trainer and strength and conditioning specialist Chad Grossnicklaus is the man who gets to experience this at PL South. He helps all athletes that are involved in school sports, including the athletes from visiting schools that come to play the Titans.

Grossnicklaus said that the most common injury in any of the sports is an ankle sprain and the chronic injuries that come from cross country and track. Because they are so common, he is well experienced in knowing how to treat them. For some athletes, though, more serious injuries can occur. Sophomore Brianna Fernen tore her ACL while playing soccer last season. Grossnicklaus was there to treat her knee and point her in the right direction.

“Chad is very efficient,” Fernen said. “He is here when you need him.”

Another “patient” of Grossnicklaus’ was senior Nick Richards. Richards partially tore his rotator cuff during the off-season from football. Again, Grossnicklaus was there to help Richards recover as fast as he could.

“He is always willing to help you,” Richards said.
Through the years that Grossnicklaus has been a trainer, he has seen some very nasty injuries. During a high school football game, a player dislocated one of his shoulders in the first half, then went back out in the second half and dislocated the other one.

“It wasn’t like they popped out and then popped back in,” Grossnicklaus said. “I had to pop them back in myself.”

Another injury Grossnicklaus witnessed was a softball player at practice. She hurt her ankle and her leg performing a sliding drill at second base.

“When I went to evaluate her ankle, instead of the normal foot movement being at the ankle joint, it flexed about two inches above the ankle indicating a fractured tibia and fibula,” Grossnicklaus said.

photo by Chandler Thomas