Playing a sport not only comes with the end result of winning or losing, but also with the risk of injury.
Even minor injuries can have a major affect on a team. Just ask Florida A&M head
volleyball coach Tony Trifonov, whose team has been battling through injuries this season.
FAMU athletic trainer Yadisha Ortiz said that out of the 10 players on the volleyball team’s roster, at least seven are dealing with some sort of injury.
“Three have ankle injuries, but they are still playing,” Ortiz said. “We have one with a shoulder injury and a couple with back injuries. That’s the problem when you don’t have a lot of players.”
Senior Maria Gomez recovered from a knee injury last season and is now dealing with an ankle injury this season.
“When I am playing, I’m thinking that it doesn’t hurt so I don’t let it affect my performance,” Gomez said.
Managing so many injuries has kept Ortiz very busy this season. Recovering from injuries can also lead to more work for the athletes as well.
“Once [the players] start playing and get injured, they come to the trainers and, depending on their injury, we treat them,” Ortiz said. “Playing a sport is not for individuals who do not like to work and cannot take pain. To be an athlete you have to be able to give your best when you feel at your worse.”
Like the volleyball team, FAMU’s men’s and women’s cross country teams have also been dealing with its share of injuries to start the season. FAMU athletic trainer Kyle Gaines said the injuries have ranged from ankle sprains to shin splints.
“Nobody is out and it is not affecting the team,” Gaines said. “Being an athlete means you are going to have to fight through it.”