Keeping the Rams Running
The unsung proprietors of athlete health
Liv Sewell
On the sidelines of every game at Colorado State, an athletic trainer stands ready.
Beyond the bright lights and cheering fans, they are the quiet guardians of student-athlete health. Their work is not flashy, nor is it meant to be. In fact, if they’re doing their job right, they’ll only be seen in-game a handful of times.
Because their work mainly happens behind the scenes – but that doesn’t make it any less crucial.
Athletic trainers are the mechanics of the human machine, ensuring every part moves smoothly, every joint remains stable and every muscle performs at its peak. But even the most well-oiled machines need maintenance, and that’s where they step in.
“If we’re doing our job well, you’re not going to see us on TV doing stuff,” said Annie Lopez-Bauman, the assistant athletic director for sports medicine. “All our work is done before and after games. We just hope to sit on the end of the bench and not have to do anything. But we’re also prepared for those emergency situations if someone gets bumped in the face.”
Bauman runs the 8,313-square-foot facility which caters to athletes across 15 sports and CSU’s spirit squad. The six full-time trainers are at every practice and match, standing by to take care of injuries when they arise.
Their work is largely preventative, ensuring that athletes are physically prepared before they even step onto the field or court. In the event of an injury, they provide immediate care, design rehabilitation programs, and guide athletes through recovery. Yet, despite their critical role in the athletic ecosystem, misconceptions persist.
“I would say I’ve heard ‘water girl’ so many times, especially when I used to work football,” Nika Walker said. “Everyone thinks we just do water and tape ankles, but we do so much more than that. We’re there from the injury onset through their entire rehab and eventually returning to play. Our jobs are so much more than people think.”
Athletic trainers are often mistaken for assistants or support staff rather than the highly skilled medical professionals they are. Their work extends far beyond hydration and first aid.
Without them, many athletes would struggle to perform at their peak.
“I think Annie and the training department help me so much during basketball season,” Hannah Ronsiek said. “There’s so much going on with games and traveling, so getting that recovery in really helps you perform at your best each game.”
The connection between athletic trainers and athletes goes beyond just treatment though. Trainers become an essential part of an athlete’s daily routine. They understand the demands of college sports and the toll it takes on a student-athlete’s body and mind.
Over time, this relationship fosters an environment where athletes feel comfortable communicating their pain or discomfort without fear, helping to prevent long-term injuries.
“I can tell from how you said ‘hi’ to me that you’re not feeling your best,” Walker said. “I know their moods pretty well because I’m always with them. So, it’s a lot easier for them to tell me the truth. Because, at the end of the day, I’m just trying to keep you safe, and if you tell me something hurts, I’m not going to hold you out of participation unless absolutely necessary.”
This level of familiarity is crucial in sports medicine. Athletes often push themselves beyond their limits, sometimes ignoring pain to stay in the game. Having someone who knows them well enough to recognize when something is off can make all the difference in preventing serious injuries.
Athletic trainers must balance an athlete’s competitive nature with their long-term health, making tough decisions when necessary.
When they come in as a freshman, they don’t know which way is up. But then, watching them mature and grow into their own, it’s awesome.Nika Walker
“It starts with the relationships and trust we build with the coaching staff and existing team members,” Lopez-Bauman said. “A lot of it starts during the recruitment process, too. The coaches of our team rely on our staff to come on campus tours and take them through the facility. And we have an opportunity to talk about what our goals are in this place. It’s not just post-injury or post-surgical care. It’s prevention, it’s recovery. We understand what their goals are, and we’re just trying to help them maintain and reach those goals.”
This level of involvement in the recruitment process shows just how integral athletic trainers are to a program’s success. Their role begins before an athlete even steps foot on campus and continues until they graduate. They ensure every player is set up for long-term success, prioritizing health and performance equally.
And once they do get to CSU, their athletic journey is just as rewarding.
“(It’s rewarding) because of two different things,” Walker said. “One would be getting to see them perform at their best. I watch them at practice, so I know how hard they work and how badly they want it. So, I get to know them as human beings and athletes. And then, also working at a university, it’s nice to see them kind of grow up. When they come in as a freshman, they don’t know which way is up. But then, watching them mature and grow into their own, it’s awesome.”
For many athletic trainers, their journey to the career itself began with an injury of their own.
A love for sport lies behind every trainer.
“Like most, I was younger and sustained an injury as an aspiring athlete,” Lopez-Bauman said, who started in 2007 and has been with the women’s basketball team longer than head coach Ryun Williams. “I had experience being mentored and shadowing the athletic trainer at my high school, which is where I really got interested in the professional field. … When I was finishing my schooling, there was an opening at CSU as an entry-level athletic trainer working for women’s basketball and women’s golf. I’ve been here since. It’s been a fantastic first full-time certified job. For me, my position has evolved, but my love for CSU and living in Northern Colorado has definitely kept me here.”
Many athletic trainers begin their careers after personal experiences with sports injuries. Having gone through the recovery process themselves, they bring a level of empathy and understanding which resonates with the athletes they work with. Their firsthand experience with injury fuels their passion for helping others avoid the same fate.
And the athletes know how important their work is, too.
“I would say people overlook recovering and stretching and getting the work in before the game,” Ronsiek said. “There’s a lot that goes into basketball and sports in general that people don’t get to see.”
Even a finely tuned engine needs oil changes, tire rotations and tune-ups to keep running at its best. Athletic trainers ensure that the bodies powering CSU’s teams don’t break down from overuse or neglect.
Athletic trainers are the unseen engineers, keeping the gears turning behind every game, every practice and every championship pursuit. Without them, the entire operation would grind to a halt. And though they may not take center stage, their role is indispensable. Because even the strongest machines need care, and at Colorado State, the best mechanics are always standing by, ready to keep the Rams running.
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