Tiger trainer

Tiger trainer

Tiger Pride is a presentation of Shelby Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press. 

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. 

SHELBY — Athletic trainer Michaela Malkowski is one of the newest additions to the Shelby High School staff through her employment with Trinity Health.

The athletic trainer joined the SHS campus last January. “Trinity Health pairs with a lot of high schools with having athletic trainers go to the schools to make sure they have that opportunity,” said Malkowski. “They do Hart, Montague, Whitehall, Mona Shores, Orchard View, Spring Lake,” naming a few of the area schools receiving the valuable service.

The 2018 Mason County Central graduate who played basketball for the Spartans is trained to help prevent, diagnose and treat athletic injuries from sprained ankles to more serious emergency situations like cardiac events and spinal injuries. “If someone goes into cardiac arrest, we’re trained to do that. If someone has a neck injury, we’re able to spine board. We’re prepared for that.”

Fortunately, the trainer has not had serious injuries to deal with yet, but has handled many sprained ankles. “For kids who have done that for the first time, it’s scary and painful. It’s a matter of calming them down first.”

Malkowski, 23, said she wears many hats with her new job and takes on the roles of mother, sister or friend to the athletes. “Sometimes they just need someone to talk to.”

A Central Michigan University graduate, Malkowski’s college internship in the athletic training program also took place at Shelby.

“I love it here. The coaches here at Shelby — especially being a younger athletic trainer — they respect me and trust me. They make me feel very welcome.” 

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