Every game day, they are the first on the field and the last to leave. Whether wrapping ankles, taking late night hospital trips or checking in when nobody else thinks to, Davidson’s athletic trainers are the behind-the-curtain backbone of Davidson Athletics. They are the essential yet overlooked part of our sports teams and their dedication is a crucial piece to an athlete’s success.

Football and Golf team athletic trainer Steve Zook is in his seventh season with Davidson Football, but he has been a certified athletic trainer since 2001. “We do more than just cover games and wait for somebody to get hurt,” Zook said. 

The trainers typically arrive at Baker Sports Complex around 8am during the week. Then, around 5pm, when you can find most others heading home from work, they are transitioning over to practice. As the sun sets on the day, Zook begins post-practice rehab at 7:30pm. That is almost a 12-hour work day. 

In addition to long hours, trainers travel with the team. Sarah Weatherford is the trainer for Mens’ and Womens’ Soccer. “Next week I’ll be in town for two days […] I’ll be coming back at midnight Sunday, and then we’ll leave Wednesday, drive all day, play Thursday, then drive all day Friday,” Weatherford said. “It’s definitely hard.” 

This fall season marks Weatherford’s third year at Davidson, but she has been an athletic trainer for 10 years now. She integrates time with her family into her travel schedule. “When soccer goes and plays VCU in a couple of weeks […] I’ll be able to see them.” 

Her workload does not lessen by much once Soccer and Cross Country wrap up in the fall. Track & Field season begins in early December and lasts until May. Weatherford treats over 80 athletes during track season.

Trainers spend significant face time with these athletes, whether it be for a lighthearted recovery session or a serious talk about injury. “It’s usually not a one-off time that they’re coming in here,” Zook said. 

The constant care, mending and support the athletic trainers provide for their athletes includes mental components. Weatherford, along with the other trainers, consult the on-campus mental health counselor for Davidson athletes on the daily to “make sure that mentally, all are doing okay, and checking in on that.” 

Zook agrees. “It’s very important to talk to your athlete every day, and, you know, check in with them, see how they’re doing.” When athletes get injured, Zook and Weatherford are often the ones accompanying students to hospital trips or doctor appointments. 

Informing an athlete of a career-ending injury, prescribing a long recovery time and standing witness to struggle is a heavy burden to carry. “I feel like a lot of us absorb a lot of the injuries,” Weatherford said. “We feel that pain for y’all.”

Although the training room is traditionally a place of dread or frustration, you’ll typically hear laughter and upbeat banter upon entering. The facility is a pleasant juxtaposition to what can be generally expected from an injury rehab environment.

“Everyone’s kind of invested along the way […] when you see somebody get out of a boot or get off crutches, or, like, get to ring the bell or get cleared from surgery, everybody’s excited,” Weatherford said. 

It takes a person who strongly models patience, empathy and trust to guide athletes through times of tribulation. Zook emphasizes the importance behind those conversations: to let them know what’s ahead, and encourage athletes that their recovery goals are attainable. 

Weatherford puts her personal philosophy like this: “When you’re going through a train tunnel, you can’t always see the end. But you know it’s there, you’re just looking where your headlights are.”