CHRISTUS St. Michael athletic trainers improve the health of thousands of area student athletes

A frightening and life-altering moment nearly shattered the dreams of Texarkana football player Trip Baysinger, who fractured his tibia during a game last year, putting his college scholarship and hope to play at the college level on hold.

“All I could think was, ‘How fast can I get back to moving?’” Baysinger said. “And honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever feel normal again.” That was the scariest part for Trip.

But with the help of CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System athletic trainers and orthopedic experts, his dream is once again becoming a reality.

“We are often the first line of defense when it comes to injury prevention and recovery,” said Gerod Hubbard, athletic trainer for CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System. “Our presence in schools and on the sidelines means athletes get the care they need when they need it most.”

CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System athletic trainers are keeping thousands of student athletes across northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas safe, healthy and game-ready each day.

Through its comprehensive athletic training program, CHRISTUS St. Michael provides professional athletic training services to 23 area high schools and Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Those services include providing timely care for injuries, helping athletes to remain proactive in their health monitoring and providing essential support both on and off the field.

The program offers expedited access to the health system’s orthopedic clinic, where athletes can receive X-rays, MRIs and free physicals during mass physical events. This helps to identify and treat injuries faster, reducing injury time and improving outcomes.

Baysinger said his injury was not only physically challenging but emotionally difficult, too.

“Recovery takes time,” he said. “You have to stay committed and trust that things will come together.

He credits his care team for his timely recovery. This ultimately put him back on the field and led him to receive his scholarship to continue his athletic career at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

By embedding athletic training services directly into the community, CHRISTUS St. Michael experts help catch problems early and support athletes throughout their recovery. The program not only enhances performance but also promotes long-term health and well-being.