Staffing changes, including retirements, from year to year allow us to review the way in which we offer a variety of services with an eye towards increasing opportunity for students and cost efficiency to the district. We have an upcoming opportunity to maximize athletic training services for our students beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

Like most other Central Ohio school districts, we will contract with a medical provider for services that had previously been handled by district staff. The change will offer both high schools the same level of coverage as well as a cost savings.

A team comprised of building-level and district staff members met with representatives from both Ohio Health and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Both providers employ only licensed trainers and would provide our athletes with physicals on site, baseline concussion testing, weigh-ins for wrestling, etc. Each also provides a greater network of Sports Medicine doctors.

Currently, the district spends approximately $250,000 in athletic training. While Nationwide Children’s offered to provide the same coverage for $10,000, our team chose Ohio Health as the provider for our training services for next year. Ohio Health will offer the same services for $30,000. We believe that Ohio Health provides the best sports medicine –specific network, they work in most schools that are like Worthington including Upper Arlington, Hilliard, Westerville and Olentangy.

Though the training services will be contracted through Ohio Health, the choice of what doctor to see will always be the parent’s choice. So, if an athlete is recommended to follow up with a physician the family will make the decision about who to visit.
If you have questions about this process or anything related to the safety of our athletes, please contact the athletic director at your child’s school.

Of the 241 Division 1 schools in Ohio, each school is allowed two athletes in each event.  Thus of the 482 athletes competing in each event, our athletes finished the indoor season as being ranked in the state as listed below:

Senior Nana Kyeremeh – 4 x 400 1st place
Senior Andrew Maetzold – 4 x 400 1st place
Sophomore Jalen Wells – 4 x 400 1st place
Senior Armand Austin – 4 x 400 1st place

Sophomore Jason Baty – triple jump 16th place
Sophomore Mike Wood – high jump 14th place
Sophomore Jalen Wells – 400 meter dash 6th place
Senior Armand Austin – 400 meter dash 11th place
Senior Nana Kyeremeh – 60 meter dash 6th place
Senior Nana Kyeremeh – 200 meter dash 4th place

Sophomore Allison Huedepohl – triple jump 9th place
Sophomore Ashley Forte – 4 x 400 10th place
Sophomore Ashley Forte – 4 x 800 16th place
Junior Cheyenne Buckingham – 3200 meter run 13th place
Junior Cheyenne Buckingham – 4 x 800 16th place
Junior Annie McFarland – 4 x 800 16th place
Junior Annie McFarland – 4 x 400 10th place
Senior Megan Neff – 4 x 800 16th place
Senior Emily Nordquist – 400 meter dash 13th place
Senior Emily Nordquist – 4 x 400 10th place
Senior Kendell Kwiatkowsi – 4 x 400 10th place

See you on March 3rd!