It is watching athletes return to the field after healing from an injury that is one of the perks of the job Katie Fleck enjoys.
Fleck is the new face on the sidelines as the Clarkston High School athletic trainer. After the first week of the fall season, she is enjoying every minute.
“I am really excited to be here and get started,” she said. “The coaches are nice. The kids are amazing.”
Fleck grew up in Oakland County in Farmington but has spent the last four years in Alabama. With her family in Michigan, she wanted to return home. When she came back she saw the opportunity at Clarkston.
She admitted Clarkston has a lot of sports she didn’t work with in Alabama such as lacrosse and especially skiing and hockey.
“It is a lot bigger than previous schools I have been at but also smaller because they are so welcoming and inviting,” she added. “It has been nice.”
She was led to becoming an athletic trainer because of a swim injury.
“I was a swimmer for most of my life,” Fleck said. “I hurt my shoulder. Nobody could tell me what was wrong with it. I had coaches think I was faking it. I don’t want anyone to go through that.”
She added her and her family are really into sports and she wanted to stay in athletics.
“I love watching sporting events,” Fleck smiled. “Now I am spoiled because I won’t watch a lot of sports on television because I get to see them in person.”
When Fleck isn’t working she enjoys reading and going up to her family’s cottage to waterski and jetski. She would also like to volunteer at the Michigan Humane Society because she loves animals and has one cat.
She wants parents and guardians to know she is here for their athletes and their team.
“I am going to keep what is best for the athlete in mind,” Fleck said. “My door is always open if you have any questions or even if you don’t and want to talk.”