With over 20 sports at RM, there is no shortage of athletic accomplishments to celebrate. What some people don’t know is that behind every athletic department are the athletic trainers who keep athletes healthy and supported. Here at RM, we have our very own athletic trainer, Dahlia “Dee” Dyson, who runs an internship for students aspiring to work in the sports medicine field later in life. This internship accepts juniors and seniors who are interested in learning more about the medical side of sports.
The interns for the 2025-26 school year include seniors Candice Dondon, Cecilia Peele, and Leila McCarthy, as well as junior McKenzi Williams. Senior Paris Watkins also participates as an aid. “It’s not only just about shadowing the athletic trainer but also being able to do the physical work and getting that exposure to athletic training,” Dondon said.
Though you always see athletic trainers on the field, there is a lot of behind the scenes preparation that goes on even before games start. Interns arrive at the athletic training room around 1:30-1:45 p.m. to get everything set up and prepare for any games after school. Around 2:30 p.m. is when athletes start getting taped for practice or games if needed. Depending on how late games go, the interns could be on campus until 9:00 p.m. During this time, interns are getting real life practice caring for injured athletes. “I have learned to wrap people and treat people when they are injured. What type of bandages you use, liquid bandages and all the different sprays,” Watkins said.
Although injury care is a huge part of athletic training, athletes also look to the trainer and student interns for support outside of the physical aspect of sports. “It’s not just about physical injuries, if someone is feeling really anxious or nervous then we are also there as a support system. Some people don’t even get taped for a reason, sometimes it’s just part of their pre-game ritual,” Peele said. With this support at RM, athletes feel comfortable going to the athletic trainer and interns to take care of their bodies. Confidence in their ability to play is rooted in how seriously athletes take recovery and injury prevention. “I have learned the importance of being responsible with your body and how to take care of yourself,” Williams said.
All of the work that these interns are putting in every day translates to what they are trying to accomplish in the long term with their careers. Williams has expressed her interest in taking this internship to the next level. “I think that athletic training is really awesome and I like to be around sports even if I’m not playing them,” Williams said. Dondon also wants to continue in the sports industry. “It is a long term goal to become an athletic trainer, but short term I am interested in the business side of sports,” Dondon said. Others have used this internship as a way to get exposure for other similar medical fields. “I don’t want to particularly be an athletic trainer but I do want to pursue a career in medicine or majoring in biology or the pre-med track to become a pediatrician,” McCarthy said.
For anyone interested in this internship, it is a great opportunity to dive deeper into a career in sports. “It’s a big time commitment and it does count as classes and you do get a grade. Be eager and excited to learn, have good communication skills and we always have fun,” Dyson said.
