Erin McFarlane was always part of a team. From playing soccer and basketball for Shawano Community High School to rowing for the University of Wisconsin, McFarlane thrived while being surrounded by teammates.
That’s what made her decision about this fall so tough.
McFarlane, who graduated from SCHS in 2011, was accepted into an athletic training program that allows her to get hands-on experience treating injured athletes during her junior and senior years. The catch, though, was the time commitment would mean she would have to give up her spot on the rowing team.
“It was a very tough decision,” McFarlane said. “I loved rowing. I loved being on a competitive team. I loved being on a team.”
While McFarlane had success with the rowing team — her novice boat went undefeated in 2012 — she ultimately chose the program since it offered her so many opportunities for her future.
After going through the program for four or five semesters, students only have to get board certification to become certified athletic trainers.
“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do,” McFarlane said. “I might go on and do more schooling to become a physical therapist. I chose this program because of all the hands-on experience that I get from it.”
This week, for example, all the first-year students in the program are working during the Badgers football training camp, putting in 13-hour days at Camp Randall Stadium helping the Division I football players prepare for the season.
“We do the smaller things. In the morning we come in and help the athletes go through their rehab sheets,” she said. “We help them stretch, things like that. Before practice we tape their ankles and cover turf burns. During practice we carry water and make sure they stay hydrated.”
Over the next two years, McFarlane will work on various UW sports, being exposed to as many different types of injuries as possible.
“They try and get us to see a lot of different injuries,” McFarlane said. “Swimming is a lot of chronic injuries, basketball is a lot of acute injuries. They’ll try to get us to see as much as possible.”
McFarlane said she is enjoying the hard work and all that she is learning.
“It’s a great experience,” McFarlane said. “I really enjoy working with the players, they’re fun to be around. The staff and other athletic trainers are really nice and helpful. You can ask them any question and they are willing to answer. I’m learning a lot in a small amount of time.”
As for missing the team aspects of sports, McFarlane has found she’s still part of a team.
“The way I’m kind of dealing with that is, I think of the people in my athletic training class as kind of my new team,” she said.
Categories
