{"id":26637,"date":"2024-07-18T00:01:10","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T06:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/residents-push-montezuma-cortez-board-about-need-for-athletic-trainer\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T23:43:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T05:43:03","slug":"residents-push-montezuma-cortez-board-about-need-for-athletic-trainer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/residents-push-montezuma-cortez-board-about-need-for-athletic-trainer\/","title":{"rendered":"Residents push Montezuma-Cortez board about need for athletic trainer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Many
Many members of the community and staff waited to address the Montezuma-Cortez school board on Tuesday evening. (Courtesy Photo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 school district on Tuesday heard from residents who advocated for the eliminated position of school athletic trainer, expressing concern over student injuries and coach workloads.<\/p>\n

The board room was full of people waiting to address the board, and many others stood at the back when seats were filled.<\/p>\n

Some who planned to speak with the Board of Education opted to give up their time to ensure that others with major concerns could speak before the hour limit for comments expired.<\/p>\n

Nicci Crowley voiced her concern about the recently vacant high school training position, which had been held by Mitch Taffe until this summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really want the board to think about the safety of our athletes and kids involved in activities,\u201d Crowley said.<\/p>\n

Crowley told the board that the absence of a trainer at games has compromised the safety of students, and that coaches can\u2019t fill the role on their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially the ones in high-risk sports, the amount of time working for the students at the high school is high,\u201d Crowley said. \u201cWhile CHSAA doesn\u2019t require an athletic trainer, why would our district choose to do the minimum when we have amazing people in our county ready to work for our kids?\u201d<\/p>\n

Crowley also raised the risk of concussions. Because game days are highly intense and busy, an athletic trainer is vital to ensuring the safety of athletes who might have obtained a concussion while playing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are able to articulate strong treatment plans for these students, which not only helps them get back on the field, but back in the classroom to the best of their ability and in top mental state,\u201d Crowley said. \u201cMore than 70% of our kids are involved in athletics or activities. This should be a priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jarrett Watkins, a physical education teacher and coach at Montezuma-Cortez High School, told the board of a recent, on-field injury that could have ended in disaster. He emphasized the importance of an athletic trainer in the school.<\/p>\n

At Friday night\u2019s varsity football game against North Fork High School, one of Watkins\u2019 players made a tackle and was thrown into another player, causing their thighs to slam together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ran onto the field, and my player was screaming in pain,\u201d Watkins said. \u201cI could tell there was a deformation at the upper knee in his leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither MCHS nor North Fork had an athletic trainer, and the ambulance that had been present during the game had left because of an emergency call.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was the only person on that field that had any kind of medical training, as I am a former physical therapist\u2019s assistant,\u201d Watkins said. \u201cI made the decision to load my kid into a side-by-side, and he was screaming in agony the entire time.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the hospital, the player was found to have a compound fracture in his lower femur. The break was close to his femoral artery.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fracture could have severed the artery, and my kid would have died from blood loss before he made it to the hospital,\u201d Watkins said tearfully. \u201cI was in no place to try and make this decision \u2026 I could have killed one of my own kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m begging each of you for help to try and figure out how we can retain this position. It helps our kids, and it helps our coaches,\u201d Watkins said.<\/p>\n

Watkins also rebutted those who claimed Taffe worked as an athletic trainer just 20 hours a week.<\/p>\n

\"Mitch
Mitch Taffe. (Journal File Photo)<\/span>Courtesy Southwest Health System<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Taffe, who has been an athletic trainer for eight years, introduced himself to the board, saying that he worked at the high school and middle school for five years before his position was eliminated this summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cAthletic trainers are the front line workers,\u201d Taffe said. \u201cWe are trained in emergency care for cardiac emergencies, spinal cord injuries, severe fractures and weather-related emergencies such as heat stroke. An athletic trainer on staff mitigates these risks during emergency situations so that the athlete has the best possible chance for a positive outcome. Not having one poses a huge risk when the unthinkable happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taffe told the board that concussion protocols in the state were put in place after a student-athlete died after insufficient care after a concussion.<\/p>\n

Taffe said that in the past year, he has had 950 encounters with student-athletes in the district.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost days, I would be seeing 10 to 12 athletes, and some of their programs lasted 90 minutes or more,\u201d Taffe said.<\/p>\n

When he spoke<\/a> with The<\/em> Journal<\/em> in June, Taffe said his position was cut in May.<\/p>\n

Watkins told The<\/em> Journal<\/em> that he had gone to the school board and district leadership to advocate for the trainer position. He said it had been acknowledged as being important for the district, but then was dropped at the end of the school year.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s such a good guy and a great athletic trainer,\u201d Watkins said of Taffe. \u201cHe\u2019s worked for the (New Orleans) Saints. He\u2019s worked for the Buffalo Bills, and he\u2019s one of the best athletic trainers in the state, and we\u2019re about to lose him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taffe and Watkins are running a strength and conditioning program for student-athletes until Aug. 1.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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