Ava Rae Gurievsky

Athletic trainer Sydney Vyer stretches a varsity boys soccer player after getting injured during a match. New this year, students have the opportunity to shadow Vyer during home sports games.

     Lights, camera — hold the action. Before any Chargers sports team plays, someone needs to keep the athletes safe and healthy.

     Beneath the humming lights of Haskell Field, athletic trainer Sydney Vyer keeps a watchful eye, ready to jump in and help at a moment’s notice. Now, students have the opportunity to shadow Vyer and learn more about the field of sports medicine.

      This August, Associate Director of Athletics and Track & Field Coach Richard Cameron announced the shadowing program to Upper School students. Students are able to shadow Vyer at home games and experience the day-to-day life of a sports medicine specialist.

     “A long time ago, a student used to spend a lot of time with the trainer and the trainer took the kid under his wing,” Cameron said. “The student ended up learning a lot, so when I took on this new position, I wanted to scale this idea up.” 

     Students can enter their name on a spreadsheet or email Cameron to sign up for shadowing time. According to Cameron, the feedback from students who have shadowed Vyer so far has been overwhelmingly positive. 

  “I was able to ask a lot of questions,” sophomore Riley Jaquish said. “It really helped me decide what I want to do.”      

     Vyer first discovered her passion for sports medicine while attending Shenandoah University in Virginia, pursuing her undergraduate degree and playing softball for the school.

     “I originally wanted to become an orthopedic doctor, but that’s a lot of school,” she said. “I didn’t want to do that, but I still wanted to be around sports.” 

     So, she took a position at All Florida Orthopedics, as well as at Shorecrest as the athletic trainer. She aims to use her love for the game to encourage the next generation of medical personnel. 

     With high school injuries ranging from concussions to fractures to strains, it’s more important than ever to have someone on the sidelines to provide immediate support to injured athletes. According to the Center for Disease Control, the most common injury is strains, something that Vyer can treat immediately. Immediate treatment reduces recovery time and allows athletes to get back to competition as soon as possible. 

     “I used to love playing sports,” Vyer said, “[but] now I love watching sports and helping.”