Kinsey Verbrugge
Title:
Athletic Training Aide
Major:
Exercise and Sport Science
Year:
Class of 2024
Hometown:
Blacksburg, VA
The work of an athletic trainer takes gumption.
Just ask Kinsey Verbrugge, a fourth-year exercise and sport science major at the University of Georgia, who is an assistant to athletic trainers with the Georgia Bulldogs football team.
Whether during practice or a game, she knows she’s got to be ready to act fast because a player’s health could be on the line.
“You always have to be on your toes, and you have to be a super quick learner because you are getting things thrown at you really fast, and you have to figure out what you need to do,” she says.
Kinsey is one of 10 students who assist professional trainers during practice, training, and games. Much of their job is carrying medical supplies, helping players hydrate, and assisting those working through physical therapy exercises. But they’re also there to give aid if a player goes down. Sometimes, especially in practice, the students are the first to check on a player just after he gets injured.
“You have to be able to assess really quickly and figure out what the trainer might need before they get here,” she says.
“You always have to be on your toes, and you have to be a super quick learner because you are getting things thrown at you really fast, and you have to figure out what you need to do,” she says.
Kinsey Verbrugge
Athletic Training Aide
A multi-sport athlete in high school, Kinsey thrives in that high-pressure, fast-paced environment. But she’s also worked to ensure she’s at her best when needed. Courses like Intro to Athletic Training, Biomechanics, and Exercise Psychology have helped her understand and identify injuries and other issues; they’ve also taught her how to treat them.
“Those classes have really prepared me,” she says.
While classes have prepared her for the job, a different UGA program helped Kinsey find her way to the football team. The Georgia Mentor Program connects students with UGA alumni, faculty, and staff based on interests and experiences. Kinsey signed up her sophomore year. Based on her interests, she connected with Paige Gearheart, who was an athletic trainer with the UGA swim team at the time. Her mentor helped Kinsey contact the team’s trainer so she could set up an interview and get the job. This year is Kinsey’s second working with the Bulldogs and the first that she’ll get to attend games as a trainer.
“I love being there at game day as a student in the stands, but I’ve never been on the field with the team,” she says. “I’m looking forward to that environment.”
After graduation, Kinsey plans to stay in the world of sports medicine. She plans to apply to graduate school to become a physician assistant (PA) and continue to help athletes stay healthy and recover from injuries.
