Photo by Caroline Schleiker

Legacy lost to Eaton High School 47-0 on Sept. 2, 2021. Trainer Kassey Newton treated a player on the sideline. [File Photo]

Ms. Kassey Newton has been passionate about sports and health her whole life. Now, she shares that passion with her athletes as the head trainer. 

Ted “Doc” Perry and Traci Randermann were Trainer Newton’s high school athletic trainers, and she said they were both “exemplary role models” for her. 

“There’s an athletic training saying it’s not that we want you to get hurt. We just want to be there when you do,” Ms. Newton said. “Athletic training was the perfect blend of health, science, and sports for me.” 

Even though Newton wants to be an honest and trusting source to the athletes, she focuses on keeping her athletes educated on their bodies.

“My favorite part about being an athletic trainer is being able to be a true unbiased advocate for athletes,” Ms. Newton said. “My goal as an athletic trainer is to make sure my athletes are educated about their bodies and their injuries so we can make the sometimes-tough decisions together to do what’s best for them not only in the moment but in the future as well.”

Ms. Newton understands her job requires more than just athletic training, but also developing relationships with the athletes. Junior Brandon Young plays varsity football and regularly visits the trainers.

“The trainers have helped me recover and keep my body healthy with all the things they have in the trainer’s office. ice bath, heating pads, stims,” Young said. “It has been big for me staying healthy and has helped me play better.”

Ms. Newton encouraged him to stretch and take ice baths to help him stay healthy and avoid significant injuries while playing football.

“Ms. Newton helped me during the football season,” Young said. “I was having lower back spasms, and [she] helped me by doing a lot of back stretches and stims to help me work through the pain and get healthy,” Young said.

Young learned about his body and how the trainers help athletes get better and recover to help them feel good on and off the field.

“I think the trainers are important because they know a lot about how the body works. They know how to help your body and keep your body healthy and I have learned how my body works because of [them],” Young said.

Ms. Newton plays a big part for her athletes like Young and always takes care of them to help them recover, stay healthy and perform on the field.

“I want my athletes to trust me and know that I care about them not only as an athlete but as a person first,” Ms. Newton said.