Every March, Leander ISD recognizes National Athletic Training Month with the purpose of honoring students dedicated to the health and safety of our student-athletes. We are featuring two athletic trainers as our Student-Athletes of the Week during this month–one from every high school campus. We are excited to applaud the contributions of these outstanding students!
As a freshman at Vista Ridge High School, Madelyn Small has been a force among the football, girls soccer and track teams. Highly motivated and determined, Maddy genuinely cares for others.
Student-athletic trainers, like Maddy, must learn and master the skill of taping to support injuries and prevent re-injury. Maddy has made such an impression, coaches have taken notice.
“Her skill level in regard to taping is well above expected, ” Vista Ridge High School athletic trainer, Rikkie Fernandez said. “Maddy volunteers a tremendous amount of time covering sports and helping with treatment. She goes above and beyond the expectations we set for time commitment and effort in completing tasks.”
Sebastian Neff’s standard of excellence pours out from the classroom to the locker room. The Rouse High School sophomore provides support for both football and boys basketball. As a straight-A student, he made the Academic All District Basketball team. More than just another reliable helper, Sebastian serves his fellow 11th-graders by leading by example.
“Sebastian may not be the most vocal student but what he is great at is taking on tasks, especially with morning treatments and administering above our expectations,” Rouse High School athletic trainer Wayne Lauritz said. “He has an understated maturity such that when we give a duty, he will carry it out as expected.”
For their genuine excitement about sports medicine in class and on the sidelines, congratulations to Madelyn Small & Sebastian Neff–Leander ISD Student-Athletes of the Week!
