Kent-Meridian’s sports medicine program shines

In only its second year, Kent-Meridian High School’s sports medicine program is making its mark.

The program, which offers classes and an after-school club, took sixth place at the Washington Career and Technical Sports Medicine Association competition and third place in the St. Francis High School Sports Medicine competition in La Canada, Calif.

“The fact that we accomplished so much this year it was just very overwhelming and exciting,” said junior Sierra Hill, who was selected for next year’s Washington Career and Technical Sports Medicine Association board. “I honestly think we surprised a lot of schools.”

Bud Bannon, sports medicine instructor and athletic trainer at Kent-Meridian, said he is pleased with the program’s success.

“It is cool to see the kids succeed this early,” he said. “We had a goal to finish in the top 10 (at state).”

In its first year in the state competition, which consists of written exams and practical exercises, Kent-Meridian finished 15th out of about 45 teams. Next year, Kent-Meridian has a goal to finish in the top three in the state.

Kent-Meridian took 16 students to the state competition in Kennewick on April 22-23, and 10 students went to the California competition on April 16. Up next is a national competition, which takes place online May 16-18.

Bannon attributed the program’s success to the students’ dedication, balancing sports medicine, with their other classes and extracurricular activities.

“I would come whenever I could before football practice, before wrestling practice, before track practice to study real quick,” senior Marquise Card-Diallo said. “A lot of us did that. That dedication when you could be relaxing because you just got out of school but you are going to study right before you have to go to practice, that is one of the things that helped us do so well in competition.”

Hill said the students wouldn’t have had the success they’ve had without Bannon.

“We all got lucky enough to have Bannon as a teacher,” Hill said. “Honestly Bannon makes the class how it is and he has done so much for us. That is what has kept me coming back.”

Program prepares students for medical field

Bannon got involved in sports medicine as a student at South Kitsap High School and went on to get a bachelor’s degree in athletic training at Washington State University before becoming a teacher, so he knows first-hand the benefits of sports medicine courses.

“It is just big with preparing them for industry, keeping in mind that they have years of college before they can enter industry which is rough,” he said. “But I know that when I left high school, I was ahead and it was helpful in college.”

Although the program focuses on sports medicine, what students learn can translate to any medical career.

“My goal is to be become a pediatric cardiac surgeon, but I was also debating between being in sport medicine,” said senior Yvonne De La Cruz. “I love soccer, so I like working alongside soccer players.”

Senior Peter Dalit comes from a family with strong medical ties, including nursing and emergency medical services.

“My main focus here in sports medicine was in medical terminology so it was a kickstart into what I want to get into as a pharmacist,” Dalit said.

Junior Trey Tanner wasn’t interested in sports medicine before taking the class.

“I actually signed up for woodworking but I got put into this class and I ended up loving it,” he said. “I love the fact that it is hands-on work. You get to learn things about the body and be out on the field with the athletic trainer.”

Many of the students in the program have athletic backgrounds.

“I think pretty much all us of being athletes, we’re able to understand more of how the motions work, experience them hands on and witness them,” Hill said.

When senior Jhozlyn McNabb tore her ACL last year, she was able to understand her injury because of what she learned in sports medicine.

“It interested me more to be hurt and figure out what I really did to myself,” she said. “When I go to a doctor’s appointment, when he (the doctor) talks to me, I know what he is saying.”

Senior Adrianna Edwards, who grew up around sports as a cheerleader, has always had an interest in sports medicine.

“Whenever people were injured I was like what’s wrong with them,” Edwards said.

After graduation, Edwards would like to pursue a career in the medical field, although she’s not sure what area.

“I am really looking forward to the rest of this class, because I still don’t know what I want to do, but it helps no matter what I choose,” she said.