In the fall of 1990, under the direction of newly-minted Head Athletic Trainer Diana Roberts and Athletic Director Mark Dorfman, and with the support and guidance of Dr. Joe Fogel, Aptos High started the first Student Athletic Training Program in Santa Cruz County.
Student trainers (from left): Bottom — Alia Gonzalez, Jaylen Dang, Anthony Smith, and Guin Lines. • Top — Jillian Weisner, Nadia Ramirez-Cerrillos, Riley Carrera, Lexiss Herrera, and Leyla Martinez. • Photo Credit: Denise Russo Photography
Since then, more than 200 students have participated in the program, and 97% of the participants have gone on to 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. In addition, subsequently, every high school ASK in the county has established their own student athletic training program.
Four Aptos High students, Abel Corona, Suzanne Dunbar, Carrie Helber, and Trish Van Lanen gambled and enrolled in the new program in fall 1990.
To prepare them for their new class and responsibilities, Mark Dorfman drove the four students to Los Angeles over the summer, where they took a three-day athletic training seminar at UC Irvine. The students stayed in the dorms and attended three days of lectures and workshops, including CPR certification.
Once back in Aptos, the four helped Diana Roberts in the Athletic Training Room and on the sidelines of games and practices, taping, icing, and hydrating athletes, all under her watchful eye.
All four matriculated to college. Abel graduated from UC Davis, Suzanne from Seattle Pacific University, Carrie from CSU Long Beach, and Trish from San Francisco State (where she played volleyball for four years).
Suzanne and Carrie continued as trainers at their respective colleges, and Suzanne also got a job as an aide at Adams and Schmidt Physical Therapy in Capitola. These four were the groundbreakers in a groundbreaking program.
Student-trainer Anthony Smith checks on a Mariner cheerleader.
Today, Abel is a dental hygienist, Suzanne is in senior management for a cardiac management program for doctors and medical clinics, Carrie works in management at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in LA, and Trish is an accountant. Three out of four into the medical field. Maybe not a grand slam, but definitely a triple.
The program has grown and thrived, and the Aptos Student Athletic Training Program has seen its students attend colleges and universities all over the state and the nation, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, CalPoly SLO, San Francisco State, San Diego State, San Jose State, Fresno State, Chico State, Arizona State, the University of Maine, the University of Washington, the University of San Diego, Boise State University, Santa Clara University, Mills College, St. Mary’s College, University of San Francisco, and many more.
Like Abel, Suzanne, and Carrie, many of the graduates stayed in the health field, becoming doctors, nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, X-ray technicians, and athletic trainers.
It’s not a program for the faint of heart.
In addition to working in the training room after the school day ends, the student trainers also work the sidelines at afternoon and evening practices and games throughout the week, including Saturdays.
Under the direction of our Head Athletic Trainer, the students, through observation, lectures, discussions, and hands-on experiences, learn how to diagnose and treat athletic injuries, including muscle pulls, sprains, shin splints, cramps, and hyperextensions.
They learn how to give immediate care, and how to rehabilitate injuries through long-term care. They also learn about hydration, taping, communication and more.
Today, the program is led by Hilary Beymer, a certified athletic trainer who is in her 7th year at Aptos High. She is supported by team doctor, Dr. Nicholas Abidi and his OrthoNorCal team.
Hilary has nine student trainers under her supervision this year, and they are instrumental in helping her to keep our student-athletes healthy and safe.
Aptos High has grown into the largest athletic program in the county, offering more sports and more teams to more students than any other school in the county, including Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz.
Over 1,000 AHS students participate in its athletic program each year. In a single day, Aptos could have up to 10 athletic contests on campus, and triple or quadruple that for a week.
With the assistance of her student-trainers, who prep contest sites, prepare ice buckets and water bottles, refill first-aid kits, labor in the Athletic Training Room, and work the sidelines at practices and games, Hilary is able to manage all the events thrown at her. Hilary believes unequivocally that the assistance provided by her student trainers improve the health and safety of the Aptos student-athletes.
Recent grad A.J. Pichardo, now attending University of Las Vegas, has this to say: “The sports medicine program at Aptos High was one of my favorite parts of my high school experience. Not only did it give me hands-on experience in a field that I am now majoring in, but it also gave me a fun opportunity to get involved in my community.
Even during the pandemic, the program allowed me to continue to connect with other students as well as school faculty and staff and maintain my identity at Aptos High. The coaches, as well as our athletic trainer Hilary, taught me responsibility and how to work with urgency in sometimes stressful environments. I’ll always value the lessons this program has taught me.”
Congratulations on a terrific 30 years, and thank you all.
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Editor’s note: Thanks to Travis Fox, Aptos High athletic director, and Mark Dorfman, retired athletic director, for providing this report.