A Look at Deer Park Athletic Training

Since the start of the 2021-22 school year, student-athletes at Deer Park High School (DPHS) have had the services of a certified athletic trainer available. Brendan "Brad" Judd has been on the sidelines for many home events as well as away football games, helping to better serve the needs of the school’s athletic programs.

Judd said what began as a vision of Dan, Bev, and Andrew Roberts, along with Fitness Director Sean Bernier and Rio Three Stars from the Deer Park Physical Therapy staff, transformed into his hiring in the fall of 2021. Prior to his hiring, the other staff volunteered periodically at the high school, providing athletic training services.

He said it was his relationship with Bernier that brought him to Deer Park. The two were in the same Master of Athletic Training program at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Judd said he began his college studies at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, taking advantage of the cooperative between the two schools that allows the athletic training master's program to be completed in five years instead of the customary six.

After graduation from college, Judd said job opportunities in his field were limited due to just coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he worked seven months in construction and nine months for Boeing in Auburn, Wash., in a worksite wellness position before receiving a call from Bernier that there was a position for him in Deer Park.

Roughly a month later, he was fully on board. He has credentials as a certified athletic trainer as well as his master's in athletic training, and is working on obtaining certification as a strength and conditioning specialist. Since the summer of 2022, Judd said he has spearheaded a summer strength and conditioning program. He cites strength and conditioning as the pillars of his work and said participation in the program has had a steady uptick in participation annually.

Judd said he is excited for the upcoming school year as he will have newly hired athletic trainer Jordan Kopsho, after working with him for the past two semesters. Head baseball coach Darren Snyder said, "Brad has been an excellent resource for our student-athletes,” citing his collaborative work with players in his program and having the best interest of the players and coaches in mind.

Taylor Brudwick, from the track and girls soccer coaching staff, added, "Brad does an amazing job for Deer Park athletes with care for injuries and post-in- jury rehabilitation, which other small communities don't have." Dana Shaw, from the softball and girls basketball coaching staffs, said, "Brad has been amazing with his availability. His communication has given the athletes I coach rehabilitation programs and his follow-up [has] kept his players on the field and court."