April 14, 2024
By Janset Cinaz
Managing Editor
Ask any athlete who is dealing with a sports injury, and they will tell you the importance of athletic training in their recovery. Whether they are icing, receiving rehabilitation, stretching or getting taped up for their games, injured athletes rely on their visits to the athletic training room to heal and perform at their best.
With 18 years of experience at LHS, Athletic Trainer Tom Thomas–better known as Trainer Tom–works with an average of 10-15 athletes each day. Especially during the winter sports season, he uses the main athletic training room, which is at the entrance of the girls locker room.
Thomas said the most significant shortcoming of the athletic training room, which was last renovated in 2008, is insufficient space.
“The room’s narrow design and sectional walls make it challenging to organize equipment and assist multiple athletes simultaneously,” Thomas said.
He said the room is too crowded for the ice machine, sports whirlpool, stationary bicycle, two taping tables and other supplies it contains.
“When you have a limited amount of space, it’s harder to put equipment in the room. I can provide more help to athletes with more space,” Thomas said.
He said he also struggles to keep the room from overheating.
“The ceiling is falling off and the exhaust fan doesn’t work, so I have to shut the ice machine off every week,” Thomas said.
Like Thomas, freshman Madison Gibbons, who was treated daily for an ankle injury she suffered on the indoor track and field team, said the main issue with the athletic training room is the lack of space.
“There are a lot of kids that come in and out, and there isn’t enough room for everyone,” Gibbons said. “It is a lot of work to knock down a wall, but there needs to be more room for all of [the] supplies.”
“It is an area of the school that has been neglected and is in a state of disrepair.”
Gibbons said a larger, updated athletic training room could offer more privacy to athletes and, therefore, make them feel more comfortable.
“There are so many [athletes] from each sport [who] need different kinds of treatment,” Gibbons said.
“There needs to be more inclusivity, and an updated room would help athletes.”
Junior Abraham Martinez, who worked with Thomas every day after school due to a hip injury from wrestling, said the update he would most like to see is the two existing taping beds replaced.
“The beds are too small, and there is not enough room for bigger athletes,” Martinez said.
He said the district should prioritize upgrading the athletic training room.
“Our Lyndhurst athletes should be provided with the best care by the best trainer [in] the best rooms [with] the best equipment,” Martinez said.
Senior Anthony Pizzuti, who was treated daily for an injury he suffered playing basketball, described the athletic training room as outdated.
“I would like to see some air conditioning in [there] and a new roof because it is collapsing. Debris is falling [all] over,” Pizzuti said.
He said Thomas deserves a better workspace.
“It’s just not a good area for a trainer to do medical work. If it was a little nicer looking, it would feel more professional,” Pizzuti said.
Principal Ms. Vuono said she, Superintendent Mr. DeCorso and the district administration are aware of the condition of the athletic training room.
“It is an area of the school that has been neglected and is in a state of disrepair,” Vuono said. “We believe that our student-athletes and trainer deserve a clean, safe and pleasant environment.”
Vuono said she has proposed to DeCorso that the space be updated and renovated until funds can be allocated to build a new room.
“Given the dismal conditions, we know that action is required to restore dignity and functionality to this vital space,” Vuono said. “We are hopeful that we can schedule renovations to be conducted over the summer.”
