Head athletic trainer Adam Hunsaker tapes the shin of varsity football player Eli Heningway.
One of the new faces around the Carson High’s athletic program in the last few years is one of the most important ones.
Adam Hunsaker, through an agreement with the Carson City Unified School District and Carson Tahoe Health, is starting his third year of dealing with the athletic training needs of all athletes at CHS.
It’s a demanding job. The 32-year-old Hunsaker arrives on campus every day at 1 p.m. and stays until the last athlete has left the premises, whether it’s a practice or game day. On Saturdays, his days start even earlier and sometimes last longer.
Hunsaker is at every home event, and he travels with football, basketball and sometimes track. He has even been called on to work NIAA regional events when they are held at Carson High.
“I love it,” he said. “I really like my job.
“I like the area. It reminds me a lot of the climate in Utah (where I went to college). The family enjoys it here. You have a chance to be so close to Lake Tahoe. It’s great.”
Hunsaker is considered a full-time employee of Carson Tahoe Health, and works under the supervision of Steven Yasmer, who managed the Therapy Services department. Hunsaker’s time is donated 100 percent to the high school.
“Adam is extremely skilled and works closely with our physical therapists when rehabbing injured athletes,” Yasmer said. “This relationship with our therapy program combined with Adam’s skill is what drives injured athletes to an expedient and safe return to play, providing a seamless continuum of care. This is a model being used by many other community hospitals around the country to support local athletes.”
Bob Bateman, CHS athletic director, said the relationship is a good one, and he hoes it continues.
“I think Adam is outstanding,” Bateman said. “He shows great passion for what he’s doing. He stays current and has written up some policies for us.
“This works out great for us. We now have a full-time trainer. This saves us a lot of money and gives us something we needed.”
And, Husaker’s work and attitude has drawn rave reviews from football coach Blair Roman and basketball coach Carlos Mendeguia.
“He’s been tremendous,” Carson football coach Blair Roman said. “His philosophy of dealing with kids is in line with mine. He is dedicated to kids, second to none, and to his job. To be a good trainer, you have to have that attitude.”
“He’s been great,” Mendeguia said. “He is the type of guy who goes above and beyond. He is always on the road with us. He is great with the kids, and they feel comfortable around him. He likes to come into the locker room before and after games (to check on things). He treats things like he’s at the college level. He is here all the time. It’s like we have a full-timer trainer.”
And, player safety is first and foremost.
“We’re in a different era the last 5-10 years,” Roman said.
“Player safety and health is the No. 1 thing, and I feel like Adam supports that. I think it has helped that he played the game. He knows what the kids are going through; things that people might not know.”
“When it comes to injuries, I defer to him,” Mendeguia said. “I trust his professionalism. We’re on the same page there (health issues).”
Hunsaker, a high school wide receiver and a sprinter in Utah at Skyview High School, started getting interested in athletic training his final year of high school.
“I had a really good athletic trainer in high school (Jeremy Wiley),” Hunsaker said, surveying the action during a recent CHS football practice. “He was a great guy, really easy to talk to.”
Hunsaker, who graduated from high school in 2001, went on the required 2-year Mormon mission from 2002-04. He was assigned to Los Angeles.
After his mission was over, he went back to Utah, only to return to the Los Angeles area where he met his future wife, Rachel. Hunsaker attended El Camino College where he got involved in athletic training as a volunteer and observer.
He transferred to the University of Utah where he received a bachelor’s, (in 2011) and then went on to earn a masters at Weber State.
Hunsaker admitted it took a while to get his schooling done. He jokes about being on the 10-year plan.
“I worked as a personal trainer and a delivery driver before I buckled down,” he said, laughing.
Hunsaker observed at the University of Utah, and then when he went to Weber State, he was assigned a club or school to work at in addition to teams on campus.
“I spent the majority of my time there with the football program,” Hunsaker said.
That is a good thing because Hunsaker admits football is his first love. When he isn’t busy with his family, he admits to spending plenty of time in front of the TV watching his favoite sport. He joked the invention of te DVR probably saved his marriage.
“I’m a football guy; love football,” Hunsaker said. “One of the reasons I do this is to have a chance to be close to the game of football.
“I grew up in Athens (Georgia). My dad taught at the University of Georgia, and the Bulldogs are the first team I followed. I still follow them. I like Utah and I’m also a 49ers fan.”