From first aid to first place: Athletic trainer recognized for decades of work

When Dartmouth High School’s Athletic Trainer Kathleen Thornton was in high school, she had no idea people in her role existed — her school didn’t have one.

However, a few weeks into her time studying engineering and computer science and playing soccer at Bridgewater State, Thornton found herself with a minor injury and an epiphany as to what she needs to do with the rest of her life.

Thornton said she always tells her athletes: “You’ll end up where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to do.” She couldn’t imagine her life in any other career — and neither could her students.

So when Athletic Director Andrew Crisafulli nominated Thornton for the Yoshitaka Ando Athletic Trainer of the Year Award for 2024, athletes took to writing letters of support to the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association. And after over 30 years of athletic training, two of which were in Dartmouth, Thornton was recognized for her work.

She said she felt “honored” to receive the award, noting it was extra special that she knew the person the award was named after, Ando, who was a “fantastic guy” she went to college with. 

Thornton leads a team of athletic trainers at Southcoast Health, who are contracted out to 10 high schools around the area. 

“I’ve had a great time here,” Thornton said of Dartmouth. “I can’t say enough about the kids.”

Sometimes people, and especially athletes, get a preconceived notion of athletic training, believing they're there to keep them off the field, Thornton said. However, she has been able to build relationships with the athletes who are always willing to trust the healing process.

“The best part of my day is when a kid that I’ve done rehab with gets back on the field successfully,” she said.

Crisafulli said Thornton’s work ethic, communication and relationship building all contribute to the fostering of a “very safe, respectful environment that kids can thrive in and parents can be supportive of.”

She wears many hats and possesses a level of knowledge that staff and athletes alike continued to be impressed by, he said, highlighting how during rehabilitation, she always considers not only the physical aspects of recovery, but also the mental and emotional side.

In a high school setting, Thornton said an athletic trainer’s role involves rehabilitation, education, health promotion and injury prevention. At its core, the job combines her two passions of helping people and sports.

“When you have a small injury, if it’s not taken care of appropriately when they’re young … if it’s not taken care of when it first happens, they’re going to suffer for it later,” she said, adding, “That’s why I think I’m a big proponent of trainers in high school settings.”

Thornton said she sees anywhere from 15 to 20 athletes a day and even up to 40 during the fall season, treating ailments such as asthma, fractures, sprained ankles, shin splints and more. The biggest challenge for Thornton is finding a way to treat everyone. 

“It’s sometimes a little bit of a chess game,” she said, but also a pretty common issue athletic trainers face.

The number of athletic trainers have grown over the years, she said, noting how when she first got started around 1989, only three South Coast high schools had them. Now, there is only one in the area that doesn’t.

“There’s been a push nationwide, but also within the state, to get athletic trainers into every school,” she said.

Massachusetts is one of the most saturated states for athletic trainers, looking at everything east of Worcester, Thornton said. “It’s an affordable option for schools, so kids can get the medical care they need.”

“It’s quite an honor … to be recognized for what you do every day,” she said.