Athletic trainers can be found on the sidelines, in the dugout or sitting on the end of a bench. Even though they may not have the game-winning hit, shot or touchdown, they play a vital role in athletics.Athletic trainers are part of Nicholls’ athletic training program and are celebrated during March, Athletic Training Month.

These young men and women spend countless hours on the field or in the training room keeping Colonel athletes at their best.

At the same time, they are studying and learning from their teachers as well as other athletic trainers.

“You have to love it to do it. If you don’t love it, it makes it really hard to do it,” athletic trainer Che Gothard said.

The athletic training program gives students the knowledge, skills and experience needed for them to further their career in athletic training.

Many athletic trainers are former athletes who cannot seem to stay away from sports.

“I enjoy the interaction with the players and coaches,” athletic trainer Donald Rohde said. “At the same time, you are able to name-drop different athletes you’ve worked with.”

Both Gothard and Rohde are former athletes and were drawn to the profession after becoming injured.

Gothard played basketball in a high school that did not have an athletic trainer and often played on injuries that could have been prevented.

“I wanted to be someone who helped with that,” Gothard said.

Rohde never knew what an athletic trainer was until after he got hurt. “I spent so much time with them after tearing my ACL twice, and didn’t have a major at the time, so I chose to be a trainer,” Rohde said.

Athletic trainers get to travel with the team on road trips. “You get to go places that you usually wouldn’t travel to,” Gothard said.

However, the job does have some disadvantages, Rohde said. “The hours are long, and cleaning and setting up get really repetitive.”

At Nicholls, there are different levels in the program trainers must go through. Lower level students observe the more experienced athletic trainers and learn from them.

“It’s like a constant review session. The questions from the students keep you on your toes,” Rohde said.

Being an athletic trainer takes a special kind of person, one who is people-friendly and goal-driven. “You’re working with people who want to get better,” said Gothard.

March marked Athletic Training Month and recognized the hard work that often goes unnoticed.