"Collegiate Feels Like Home"

Tara Tate and Tyler Welch had spent much of the morning sweltering in the heat, but for a few moments they were enjoying the air conditioning in Collegiate’s Robins Campus training room, casually chatting as friends do and catching up on each other’s lives.

 

Tate is one of the School’s four athletic trainers.  She’s well known for her expertise, compassion, positivity, and can-do work ethic. A Varina High School and Longwood University graduate, she served for a couple of years as a contract trainer through Bon Secours, then came on board full time in 2021.

 

Welch is one of three field and equipment coordinators. The Goochland tract, with no shade on the open fields, is, for much of the year, his turf. An alumnus of James River High School and Virginia Commonwealth University who joined the athletics department staff two years ago, he’s diligent, thorough, and dedicated to fulfilling his responsibilities, which include coaching soccer, with excellence.

 

What’s been going on out here this summer? I asked.

 

“For the most part, we’re in a transition period between the end of the spring season and the start of the fall season,” said Welch, who shares the Robins Campus duties with James Lesniak. “It’s a lot of maintenance, a lot of keeping up with baseball and softball infields, making sure they don’t grow over with weeds. Putting together equipment and uniform inventory prepping for the fall. Keeping up with lines on fields. Restringing field hockey nets.

 

“Making sure everything’s in working order so when the kids come back, coaches and athletes can focus on practicing and getting ready for the season and don’t have to worry about finding out where equipment is or getting things prepared on the fields.”

 

Is there a typical summer day? I inquired.

 

“Yes,” he said. “Responsibilities can vary, but when I get in, I’ll do my lap around the fields. If lines are faded, I’ll make a note of that to make sure to paint them later in the day. Usually, if the weather’s decent, we’ll drag the infield to make sure we’re moving the dirt around.

          

“We have camps going on right now, so I’m checking in with coaches to make sure they have everything they need.  And if Coach (Justin) Brown or Coach (Collin) Lawless (Collegiate’s Sports Performance coaches) need help setting up or breaking down for their lifts or strength and conditioning, we’ll lend a hand there too.”

 

What do you enjoy about this gig? I asked.

 

“I love the variety of responsibilities,” he said. “I love the fact that on any given day, there’re any number of things I can get my hands into. I worked an office job for a little bit — florescent lighting in cubicles — and that was just miserable by comparison. Here, I get to be outside. I get to work with my hands. I see and work with a variety of people.

 

“And once the season starts, it’s awesome to see all the kids competing. I love to be able to provide them with safe playing surfaces and make sure all they have to do is focus on their game and improve themselves as student-athletes.”

 

So, Tara, what been keeping you busy this summer? I inquired.

 

“We’ve been doing inventory,” she replied. “We’re getting ready for fall. We’re collecting the physical forms and concussion agreement forms and making sure that everything’s signed. We have camps and open gyms. It’s really interesting because in the morning we can go from working with Lower Schoolers and turn around and work with Upper Schoolers. It keeps you on your toes because you have to talk to them in different ways, but it’s fun and refreshing.”

 

Why is that? I wondered.

 

“They’re just so innocent, and they’re having a blast out here,” she said of the younger campers. “There’s a joy and bliss that they have being with their friends and learning a new sport. That’s really refreshing to be around and reminds you how simple life can be. It’s beautiful. It’s just nice being around kids.”

 

You bring your own joy and bliss to your calling as an athletic trainer, I offered. Your chosen career, like Tyler’s, seems to be one of meaning.

 

“Collegiate feels like home,” she said. “The deeper the connection I grow with the kids and coaches and people I work with, the deeper I feel about this place. I feel like I spend more time here than at home. I love it. I’m ready for an amazing school year.”

~Weldon Bradshaw