Student athletic trainers at Allen High School report to practice as early as 5:20 a.m., taping ankles and setting up fields before most of their classmates are awake.

The work happens year-round. Allen ISD profiled the school's sports medicine program in an Oct. 16 feature, spotlighting three student trainers who balance early mornings and Friday-night sidelines with college ambitions in healthcare.

Kristine, a four-year member of the program, described the routine.

"We're always setting up the field, pre-game, making sure they're all taped, and making sure they're getting their electrolytes," Kristine said.

Practices on Mondays through Wednesdays begin as early as 5:20 a.m., according to the district's profile. Student trainers prepare fields, tape athletes and manage hydration during both practices and games.

The program pairs students with Licensed Athletic Trainers (LATs) on staff. A December 2024 Allen ISD profile of the program named three LATs — Mike "Doc" Harrison, Chay Nersesian and Chris Brock — with more than 50 years of combined experience.

Sutton, another student trainer, said the hands-on work drew her toward the medical field. Keltie, a fellow trainer, said the relationships built through practices, injuries and recovery make the job rewarding.

Keltie plans to pursue a master's degree in sports exercise science and kinesiology at Texas State University or UT Arlington, with the goal of becoming a certified athletic trainer.

Students are not required to have an interest in healthcare when they join, according to the 2024 district profile, though the experience often sparks one. Sports Medicine I is a state-approved innovative course through the Texas Education Agency (TEA), covering prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries.

The program has drawn outside recognition. Allen High's student-trainer program earned the North Texas Student Training Program of the Year award, which came with a $2,500 prize, according to an Allen ISD Facebook post.

The student trainers cover football and volleyball in the fall, then basketball, baseball, softball and soccer in the spring. On game nights at Eagle Stadium, which seats 18,000, they work the sidelines while thousands of fans fill the stands.

Keltie, Kristine and Sutton will keep showing up before dawn. For Keltie, the next stop after Allen High is a graduate program and a career in athletic training.