Josh Sarl, sports editor

As with any competitive sport, it is always a joy to support your favorite team, but sometimes it can be equally as important to sing the praises of those working behind the scenes. In any athletic organization there are key figures who work tirelessly in the background to ensure that things run smoothly. Whether these are the nutrition and conditioning specialists, training staff, tactical coaches, medics or physiotherapists, the list goes on. It is no different for college teams either, where students are given the chance to play an active role in maintaining the integrity of their college’s athletic outfit. At Augsburg, the athletes are supported by a web of professional trainers, doctors and student assistants in order to ensure that game days and training sessions can run without problems. The student assistants are also provided with suitable first aid training and sports management skills so that the system maintains a professional approach. 

I spoke with Ruben Rodriguez Basilio, who is a student assistant for Augsburg athletics, to shine a light on the day-to-day challenges that the backroom staff deal with. Basilio says that the hardest part of the job is the “combination between work and classes.” He mentions that it is not unusual for the student assistants to wake up at 5 am on weekdays. This is something that, to me at least, seems incompatible with the whole gist of being a “student.” He also mentions the amount of travel that comes with the role, with his longest journey being a five-hour drive to Valley City, North Dakota. 

Basilio mentions how the medical aspect of the role means that “you see things that you wouldn’t expect. You need to be ready for it.” Without divulging too much detail, it is clear that high-intensity sport can often bring about injuries, and the student assistants must be prepared to witness, evaluate and treat pain. Augsburg necessitates the students to receive full and comprehensive first-aid training ahead of time.”We had one online training session and a week of physical training. Afterwards we learnt more on the job. I felt prepared to deal with anything that could happen,” says Basilio. 

However, through these dynamic and rolling hurdles that the backroom staff face, Basilio also acknowledges the positives of being around a tight-knit team and working together. I asked him about the different skills that he has now built as a product of his role. “Leadership skills, teamwork, and community. You get to know so many people, and this helps you gain confidence and build relationships.” 

Basilio likens the relationship between the student assistants and athletes to “a small family.” Despite the arduous travel, Basilio sees it as mutually beneficial, not only for the athletes “as they have more trust in us and that builds confidence,” but also for the assistants themselves as they learn and apply skills to real-world scenarios and foster good relationships. 

I asked Basilio if he would recommend the program to new students who are looking to get further involved in Auggie life. “I would recommend it. The only thing is you need to be ready if you take the position. If you have those responsibilities, you need to commit to it.”