Wooster Colts and Hug Hawks face off in high school football divisional matchup

Friday night marked the start of league play in many northern Nevada high school football divisions. Hug and Wooster challenged each other in their first in-league rivalry game of the season. 

Both teams were also in search of their first win of the season, making Friday's matchup a pretty big deal. 

One of the most important things a player for any sport can do when leading up to a big game is to stay healthy by properly hydrating. Hug High's Medicine Teacher and Athletic Trainer, Brent Hatakeyama, says.

"We usually try to get them hydrated," he said. "We get some electrolytes in before the game, usually right after school. We have a routine for ankle taping, then they have to stretch, do some exercise so they're open and ready, and then we go over certain things like special plays."

Hatakeyama tells us the players have a responsibility as well to stay healthy off the field, so they can be at their best on the field.

"Especially in the middle of the season when everybody is kind of exhausted and beat up, that they're knowing how to take care of themselves," he said. "I always tell them each athlete is an individual, they have to do their own individual stretches, own exercises." 

In addition to being the school's primary athletic trainer, Hatakeyama is also a teacher and gets to connect with students in the classroom.

He says it is great to see that correlate on the field. 

"It's really cool, especially when I have those athletes that are really listening, that are really trying to push the next level," he said. "I'm able to educate them a little bit more, the ones that are really pushing for their understanding, the full benefit of everything."

At Hug High, students can also participate and intern as athletic trainers.

Elizabeth Bedard, a student intern, says, "It's a really incredible opportunity. I know a lot of students that would really benefit from having this introduction into medicine. Athletic training definitely isn't what you're thinking of when you think medicine, but it's a really crucial part of any sports team. And it's really cool to be able to learn about it."

At Hug High, the team energy surrounding Friday night lights is truly special. As is the effort going into keeping their players healthy during the midseason stretch.