For the first time at Walpole High School, new Athletic Trainer Rory Fawcett is a directly paid member of the faculty. With over 800 student athletes and 26 varsity sports, Walpole High School has many of athletic needs. This year, new Athletic Trainer Rory Fawcett is here to take on these needs.
“There are several hundred athletes and just one me, so I try my best to bring the best care to everyone,” said Fawcett.
For the past two years, Walpole High School’s athletic trainer, Antigone Matsakis, was not a part of the staff faculty for the school. Matsakis worked out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Walpole High School had a contract with the hospital. The trainer before Matsakis, Mike Belanger, was also contracted to the school through Brigham and Women’s. However this year, things are different.
Graduating from Ithaca College in Athletic Training, later receiving her master’s and then her doctorate degree in physical therapy, Fawcett is strongly qualified for this busy job.
Athletic Director Ron Dowd said, “She has been doing well. This is a tough job to come into. She did not know any of the students, and physicals and IMPACT tests needed to be done before try outs and with everyone on summer vacation, it is a challenge. She did a very good job of getting everything completed.”
Students at Walpole High School also seem to enjoy Ms. Fawcett as well. Senior captain of girls volleyball, Abby Hile, recently injured her ankle and visited to her office.
“Ms. Fawcett was extremely helpful for me when I rolled my ankle,” she said. “She was very accessible and helped me recover quickly. I think she’s very easy to talk to and approachable.”
Tayla Randall, a senior captain of girls soccer team, also described Fawcett as extremely knowledgeable.
“I’ve only visited her a few times, but I can tell she is really smart. I don’t know how she balances everyone’s needs, but she does a great job.”
This year will be Fawcett’s first time working on her own at the high school level; however, in graduate school, she practiced per diem athletic training at the college level.
“Making the jump from the college scene to the high school scene can be difficult, but I think those experiences will help her,” said Dowd. “Communication is extremely important at this level, and she does that very well.”
Currently, Fawcett is available in her office every day after school, comes to each home game or meet and also provides service to athletes before, during and after practices. She can also meet with a student or parent last block of the school day to discuss injuries and any treatment that may be needed.
Dowd said, “She is a very hard worker and very thorough in everything she does, which will help keep athletes safe.”
