These Pasadena students know their sports medicine

Matilda Pearce said it was nerve-wracking to get quizzed in front of a crowd. But the 16-year-old from Altadena nevertheless emerged first among 350 high-schoolers competing in the National Sports Medicine Competition in May.

Matilda, a 10th-grader at Blair High School in Pasadena, said stress was part of the fun.

“The hardest questions asked were about palpations, and shoulder anatomy was very hard to remember,” she said.

Eight students from Blair High School ranked in the top 25 out of 350 students in their division. About 60 schools sent students to the nationals, which celebrates knowledge of sports medicine and athletic training. The contest is sponsored by the American Academic Competition Institute.

Ninth-grader Naomi Suubi Kirya-Sales earned a second-place ranking right behind Matilda, among students from schools of similar size.

The students had about five months to prepare for the two-part competition, which included practical tests on anatomy and physiology as well as exams to demonstrate knowledge and skills on sports medicine.

Tamar Vega is lead teacher for the Pasadena school’s Health Careers Academy. She said students in the four-year program learn by doing, not only tackling college-level textbooks, but also completing internships and helping student athletes on campus.

“I so admire their enthusiasm and the fact they’re such hard workers,” Vega said. “They get so excited about learning things and they’re really into it.”

“We are incredibly proud of these students for their dedication and hard work,” said Amy McGinnis, principal at Blair High School. “These achievements are a testament to the strong foundation students build at Blair’s Health Careers Academy.”

The school also placed second as a team for their division in the national standings. The students competed in their knowledge of emergency procedures, first aid, physiology, anatomy, rehabilitation and therapeutic exercises. The regionals were held in March and the nationals in May. Testing was conducted via written exams and video at Cal State Northridge and awards were announced on May 31.

Aside from Pearce and Kirya-Sales, Blair Vikings who finished in the top seven percent of all competitors include Chantal Sakayan; Ginger Sheedy; Zoe Jeronimo; Gabby Sheran; Jasmine Munguia; and Giulia Dye.

The school’s stellar showing bodes well for the students, since Vega said there is always a need for medical professionals in sports, from NASCAR to USA Gymnastics, all professional sports and high school programs.

“Athletic trainers and (professionals in sports medicine) are a huge part of sports and become part of the team,” she said.