Behind the success of AHS athletic programs, athletic trainers work quietly in the background to keep student-athletes on the field. For the last two years, that person has been Sarah Nickell. Nickell has recently moved on from her role at AHS, but her impact on student-athletes and her passion for athletic training stand out and were appreciated by our students.
Nickell’s path to becoming an athletic trainer began unexpectedly. In her freshman year of college, she had a car accident that left her struggling with injuries and pain.
“The only person who was really able to help me was an athletic trainer,” Nickell said. “That’s how I was introduced to the field.”
As an athletic trainer in our high school setting, she said that no two days ever looked the same.
“It can be really challenging because you can’t be everywhere at once,” Nickell said.
Even when not physically present at games or practices, she was always “on call” for those who needed help.
In terms of injuries, Nickell said the most common among high school athletes are lateral ankle sprains and concussions. Many of these injuries can be prevented through proper education and training.
“Prevention is the number one thing athletic trainers try to push,” Nickell said.
Teaching athletes how injuries happen and how to strengthen vulnerable areas can make a major difference. She is especially passionate about making injury education more accessible to everyone. She said that many high schools across the country do not have athletic trainers. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that approximately 34 percent of high schools in the United States do not have access to one. Her goal moving forward is to help bring prevention education to schools that lack these resources, ensuring athletes understand how to stay healthy and safe.
For students interested in becoming athletic trainers, Nickel gave insight into a clear path. She urges interested students to earn a four-year degree in a related field such as exercise science or kinesiology, complete a CAATE-accredited master’s program, and pass certification and licensing exams.
Looking back on her time at Aspen High School, Nickell hopes her work made an impact.
“I just hope I made kids more interested in the field and more interested in getting healthy,” Nickell said.
