On the Front Lines

Two days into fall football practice at Coffeyville Community College in 1990, Travis Francis duplicated the ACL injury he had suffered in high school at Silver Lake. His brief college football career cut short, he returned home crushed. "My goal was to play college football," says Francis, now manager of Via Christi's Department of Outreach Sports Medicine. "But I found out my body can't handle this type of activity." A three-sport athlete in high school and a member of C.J. Hamilton's undefeated state title team at Silver Lake in 1989, Francis sought an alternative path to satisfying his passion for football. "I didn't want to give up the sideline feel, the aura that goes with it. So I said if I can't play it, I'll join them in some capacity. I had to fill that void. I've always wanted to be around athletes." Francis knew first-hand that physical injury does multiple types of damage to athletes. The mental anguish from having to sit out and watch exacerbates the pain of a busted knee. "I see an injury and I know what they're going through because I've been through it," Francis says. "I can help with psychological matters as well." Francis, degreed as an athletic trainer by Washburn with a Master's from Ohio University, has led Via Christi's athletic training program serving greater Wichita area high schools for the past seven years. He performs his individual duties at Andale High, paying close attention to a football program which has won two consecutive state titles. Via Christi's program started in the early 1990s with athletic trainers spending limited time at Wichita high schools, taping ankles before practice and icing players down afterward. Today, Via Christi athletic trainers work at about 15 area schools, including full-timers at most City League schools and area schools Maize, Goddard and Andale. Via Christi also provides care to Conway Springs, Udall, Clearwater, Wichita Collegiate, Bishop Carroll and Independent. The athletic trainers travel with the football teams in addition to the homes games and cover all other home events. "Before school is out, we give athletes minor rehab in the training room, getting them ready for practice. If we have more detailed rehabs, we'll do that, then visit practices. After it's over with, we figure out injuries, take care of them, and get set up for next day," says Francis. The athletic trainers' chief role is to act as first responder and liaison between medical professionals and coaches. When a player goes down, Via Christi provides a trained professional to decide the nature of the injury and what type of treatment it requires. Also, if a player has undergone medical treatment, Via Christi's in-school athletic trainer aids in the implementation of appropriate rehabilitation and advises coaches on what recuperative stage the athlete is at. "Coaches know who we are, and players and parents have a good idea of what we do. If we see an injury, I'll call mom and dad and let them know and tell them why their kid is being held out." "People see that there's a quicker return to play when we're involved with the process [of recovery]." Maize High was the first school to retain a Via Christi athletic trainer on campus full-time. Chris Cannizzo, degreed by Kansas State and Fort Hays State, started as the Maize athletic trainer in the fall of 1998. "We're the only ones in the medical field who are with them every day," Cannizzo says is the most advantageous component of Via Christi's service. "If the kid goes to therapy, it's once or twice a week. With the doctor, it's every couple weeks." The Via Christi athletic trainers are on the front lines every day. "If they did something to their knee, at half time we can get it right. Or we can call the doctor or physical therapist to see what needs to be done. We're coordinators of care, so to speak." Two years ago, Cannizzo treated a freshman cross country runner who was dehydrated. The athlete began cramping and passed out. Cannizzo got her cooled off and was able to get her to where she was awake so they could take her to the hospital to get an IV. "Chris took one look at her and said 'no we can't take her back to the school'," says Debbie McNay, mother of Kelsy, the cross country runner who had passed out that day. "The coach thought maybe liquids would be fine, but Chris said, no, we need to get her to the emergency room. "Chris is just incredible. He knows so much about sports training. It's invaluable," Debbie says of the service provided by Via Christi. "He asked me what I had had to eat and drink," remembers Kelsy. "He asked questions and realized what had happened. He immediately told them to take me to Via Christi hospital because I was dehydrated and needed fluids and salt". "It makes my parents not worry as much. If something is wrong, we just go see Chris and he can help."