Campo Verde High School, located in Gilbert, AZ, made a special trip to visit the Los Angeles Angels athletic training staff on April 21, 2023.
Prepared by: Richard Stark, ATC
The purpose of the Campo Verde HS Sports Medicine trip was to allow the sports medicine students the opportunity to visit various colleges, professional teams/venues, entertainment, or industrial programs throughout the country. It also provided an opportunity for the students to learn about local history, civic and cultural events and to have fun. The trip is funded by the CV Sports Medicine Booster Club which does various fundraisers throughout the year (50/50 raffle at games, restaurant nights, tax credit donations, vending machine, and candy bar sales).
Last year (2022) they visited the University of Washington Sports Medicine Program and University. A Q&A session at the hotel with Seattle Seahawks Assistant Athletic Trainer CJ Newman, the Seattle Fish Market, Space Needle, and a Ferry ride across the sound.
This year the students picked the Los Angeles area to visit. The trip was from Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 23.
The first stop was CSU Long Beach – where the students (18), CV ATCs (2), and parents (8) were greeted by Andrew Vaca — a Professor of Dance who teaches studio courses in jazz dance, modern dance, and pedagogy. He is proud to have served Dance as Department Chair and Assistant Chair and is currently the Dance Minor Coordinator. Teaches routines to many of the NFL, NBA, college, and High School Cheer Programs
Campo Verde Students Visit the LA Angels
John Siegel is the Head Athletic Trainer and manager of the CSULB Dance Clinic where he spoke to the group about working with the Dance program and other entertainment productions (Disneyland). The Q&A session lasted for about an hour and a half.
The group then went to eat dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and upon the return to campus we were greeted by Charlenne Medina ATC — Assistant Athletic Trainer for CSULB. She provided the group with a tour of the sports medicine facility and the LB campus.
The group then saw a performance of Interpretative Dance by students in Professor Vaca’s class — a different and new experience for many. After the first day, the group visited the Angels athletic training staff.
Greeted by Rick Smith Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Angels, the students were taken on a brief tour that ended in the locker room and athletic training room of the Angels. At that time, Mike Frostad, Head Athletic Trainer for the Angels spoke to everyone for an hour — this after flying back in from New York overnight. The Angels went above and beyond by having a gift bag not just for the students but for the whole party. It contained an Angels small duffel bag, a light pullover, a sweatshirt, and a hat.
The group headed to Downtown Disney for Lunch and shopping before returning to the LA Angels stadium for batting practice. On the last day of the trip, the group was off to UCLA to meet with David Wacker ATC and got a tour of UCLA Sports Medicine Facility and the various venues plus a walk around the campus. Sunday – Off to Hollywood for the sites, sounds, and shopping before having to get back to Long Beach Airport for a flight back to Phoenix. An amazing trip for the sports medicine group at Campo Verde high school and a very impressive community offering from the Los Angeles Angels athletic training staff and all other parties and universities included.