Recently, my eyes have been opened to how athletic trainers make the wrestling world run. I don't know if it is because I am old now and my body needs all the help it can get or if it is because I see just how fortunate I was to have an amazing athletic training staff my entire college career.
Many wrestlers see athletic trainers as the people wearing khakis and hauling around duffel bags of tape, but what do they think of us?
Mikayla, fellow Czechoslovakian, and I at dinner after NAIA Nationals were
cancelled in Jamestown, ND.
Written by: Mikayla Moore, A.T.C.
When Rachel asked me to write this, I got incredibly excited. All the things I could say about my experience working with wrestling started scrambling in my head. I thought about all the stories of grit and pure stubbornness I’d seen from my athletes. I thought about all the hard work I’d seen them put in whether it was on the mat or in rehab. But mostly, I wanted to take this time to put into words what being “the wrestling athletic trainer” means to me.
To introduce myself, my name is Mikayla Moore and I’m an Athletic Trainer at Oklahoma City University. After finishing my Master of Athletic Training degree, I didn’t really have any idea of where I wanted to take my passion for athletic training and spent 2 years working in a high school before I got hired at OCU. I found my heart in college athletics and especially wrestling. I’m from Texas and had honestly never seen wrestling until I got to OCU. And they threw me in the fire.
My first event was a tournament in Canada. I’d never even worked a dual or seen a live match and now I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to watch 10 mats and make sure I’m where my athletes need me. Now, I was new and these girls didn’t know me, so they really didn’t trust me yet. I hadn’t had a lot to do with them up to this point. We made it through relatively unscathed, but I’ll always remember hearing one of the other athletic trainers ask her athlete, “Can you wrestle?” It was an eye-opener. I’d always assumed that I got to make that call as the medical professional. In any other sport, you can always tell when someone is hurt and unable to play. In wrestling, it’s really hard to tell how hurt someone is because sometimes the sheer headstrong willingness to keep going takes over.
I’ve always been of the mindset that if you want to compete, (and it’s not going to make things worse) I’m going to let you. I’ve never worked with young adults that are so determined to participate that they would deny themselves a helping hand because, in their mind, seeing the athletic trainer may mean that they can’t compete. My job is to keep you on the mat and to get you back from injury as quickly and safely as possible.
Sometimes, that does mean that I need to restrict you in practice for the week.
Sometimes, that does mean telling you we need to see the orthopedic.
Sometimes, that does mean I have to be the bad guy.
But, it ALWAYS means that I have your best interest at heart.
I’ve invested countless hours at tournaments, duals, practices, and treatment in the athletic training room for my wrestlers. I want to see all of their highs, so that means seeing the lows too. I’ll cheer for you from the corner with all I’ve got. I’ll navigate the different websites and catch your bout number to make sure I don’t miss a match when I can’t travel. We can celebrate together when you win and I’ll do my best to console you when you don’t. At the end of the day, my job is to be invested in YOU. So if you take anything from this post, it is this: your athletic trainers care about you mentally and physically. We can be your best ally, your biggest fan, and your greatest advocate – if you trust us to.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the athletic trainers out there. If it wasn't for you and the countless hours you sacrifice, we wouldn't be able to do what we love.
I also want to thank all the athletic trainers at Oklahoma City University. I truly would not be where I am today without everything you have done for me. Every single one of you has gone above and beyond to help me reach my goals and I will forever be grateful.
Lastly, I want to thank Mikayla. Thank you for not only being my athletic trainer, but for being my lifting partner, my nutritionist, going two-stepping with me, shooting at the pistol range with me, being there for me on my high days and my low days, making me go to the doctor, but most importantly thank you for being my friend.