This school year, the Oswego Athletic Training Students (OATS) team is seeing a lot of new faces that are ready to learn. Since the OATS program has started running, there has been tremendous growth: a total of 54 students are in the program this school year, according to Head Athletic Trainer Brian Cronin.
According to Cronin, there has only been one class period for these students in previous years. With the growth, there are now two full class periods.
“[It’s] been exciting to see the growth,” said Cronin.
Students in this program are excited and ready to help out athletes in need. Joining OATS can be a way for students to get more involved in OH sports if they are interested.
“I liked sports a lot but I wasn’t big enough to play at a college level. I wanted to stay involved and I figured athletic training,” said Cronin.
The OATS program is perfect for students who would like to pursue medicine in the future. The program prepares students for athletic training or related medicine fields in college by providing them with hands-on experience early on.
“That’s the whole idea for the program is to prepare them for the next step,” said Cronin.
Along with new skills in medicine, students build many new relationships with each other that they can carry with them in the future.
“I’d say honestly, the relationship I’m building with people from athletic training, just whether it’s athletes or other students in the program, is just incredible,” said senior Mia Benzaquen.
The program is also a great way to figure out what path to take in the future.
“Before I joined OATS, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. [[…]] Now I’m planning my whole college stuff around like athletic training or physical therapy or something in that field,” Benzaquen added.
Be ready to watch the OATS in action on the sidelines of any Oswego sports games!
My name is Andrea and this is my first year as a 42Fifty staff reporter! I am a senior at OHS and am involved in many honor societys. I am so excited to write many stories this year.
