Sports Medicine CTE Students in Action on the Sidelines

On the sidelines of a Friday night game, another team is quietly at work. They tape ankles, monitor hydration, document injuries, and prepare for emergencies. These are students in the Sports Medicine Career & Technical Education (CTE) Program, offered at both Marana and Mountain View High Schools.

For Katherine Diep, Marana High School senior, the journey began her freshman year. “I knew I wanted to go into medicine, and this program felt like the perfect way to explore athletic training and gain real experience.”

Sports Med Designed to Mirror the Real World

The Sports Medicine CTE program is structured to reflect the realities of healthcare. According to MVHS Sports Medicine teacher Leah Oliver, the program is built on the belief that students learn best when experiences and expectations match the professional world.

“Students often come in expecting something centered on sports.This is not a sit-and-listen class,” Oliver explained. “They’re surprised to learn how deeply rooted the pathway is in science, ethics, documentation, and patient care. They are expected to think critically, communicate professionally, and apply what they learn the same way a healthcare provider would.”

Learning by Doing

A typical day in the Sports Medicine program includes anatomy questions, case studies, or scenario-based discussions before transitioning into labs. During labs, students practice taping, splinting, taking vital signs, palpation, bandaging, and mock injury evaluations.

“Doing things hands-on makes everything click,” Diep shared.

Ky Karlik, MHS Sports Medicine teacher, emphasized that technical skills are taught alongside real-world application.

“Every lab includes communication, ethics, and teamwork,” Karlik said. “We want students to understand not just how to do something, but why it matters and how it affects athlete safety.”

Students rotate through supervised shifts during high school practices and games year-round for sports including football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer.

“On the field, I was able to work alongside a trainer who safely relocated an athlete’s shoulder, Diep said. “That really demonstrated how serious this work is.”

Oliver noted that these experiences often change students’ perceptions of the profession.

“They quickly realize athletic trainers are there long before and after the game,” she said. “The behind-the-scenes work—documentation, preparation, and follow-up care is where professionalism shows.”

Students also gain exposure to the profession through partnerships with Apex Physical Therapy, ProActive Physical Therapy, Tucson Orthopedic Institute, Banner University Sports Medicine, and local EMS agencies, where they observe and interact with healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines.

Certification and Acquired Skills

Nearly all Sports Medicine students earn CPR/AED and First Aid certification, with many also completing Stop the Bleed and OSHA-10 safety program. Students who complete the full pathway and pass the Technical Skill Assessment receive a CTE Sports Medicine Program Completer certificate.

“These students are walking out with documentation and experience that puts them ahead of the curve,” said Karlik. “They’re prepared for college programs and entry-level healthcare jobs.”

While students cannot become certified athletic trainers directly out of high school, the program prepares them for roles such as physical therapy aide, rehabilitation technician, chiropractic assistant, and fitness or recreation staff, with typical wages ranging from $15 to $22 per hour. The pathway also aligns seamlessly with college programs in kinesiology, exercise science, emergency medicine, and athletic training.

A Legacy of Impact

For Karlik, a former student of Leah Oliver, the program’s mission comes full circle.

“I would never have become an athletic trainer today without Mrs. Oliver and the Sports Med program at Mountain View. That experience set the foundation for my career, and now I get to pass that on,” Karlik said.