AMY LARRABEE IS FAIRLY new to the West
Albany family, and isn’t as well known in the student community as the coaching community. Being a former collegiate and high school trainer, she has her own personal style to bring to the school, with a new tactic of being more “real” and up front with the kids. They are still able to come into the training room and have their injuries taken seriously, but also able to get them back on the court or field as soon as they can.
“As a trainer I think she’s been through some of that on her own,” wrestling coach Bryan Barker said, “so she knows as a former athlete herself some of the aches and pains, and it’s not just all from the book.”
Being a trainer comes with a large time commitment and a great deal of responsibility. On top of this, she’s also going to be a teacher for a new sports medicine class next semester.
Growing up in Corvallis, graduating from Crescent Valley High School, and getting a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from OSU, she’s been around the area and During her student athletic training, she actually had a rotation at West Albany.
“At a high school level you’re more connected with your family, so when something happens, instead of coming to me, you go to your family, but at a college level, I’m your family,” Larrabee said.
As she transitions into working in a high school setting, she says she’s still going to try to be personal with the kids that come to see her to really understand what they are going through and help them with whatever they’re facing.
“What’s really cool about high school sports is you get these kids for four years,” Larrabee said, “At the level I was at you get them for either one or just two and sometimes that’s not enough.”
As a high school trainer, Larrabee is in her office before most home games and is there to help deduce injuries you might’ve sustained during sport, wrap up anything that might need extra support, and also another friendly face inside the building to turn to.