La Cañada High School sports medicine student Allison Mueller claimed first place in the National Sports Medicine Competition, and the LCHS Sports Medicine team emerged as champions of the Jaybird and Mais division at the American Academic Competition Institute National High School Sports Medicine Competition. Among all school divisions nationwide, LCHS placed fourth.
More than 3,500 sports medicine students representing more than 300 high schools in California, Michigan, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Florida and Washington participated. The focus topic for this year’s competition was the knee, though the examination consisted of 300 questions on subjects such as first aid, CPR, emergency procedures, kinesiology and physiology.
A group of 15 LCHS sports medicine students were selected to compete in the seventh annual national competition based on scores in a regional competition held in April at Cal State Northridge.
Those 15 students took a national examination online in mid-May, and five members of the LCHS team scored in the top 10 in their division, qualifying for the practical examination, which occurred at St. Francis High School and conducted via Skype.
On June 1, Mueller emerged from the practical with the top score in the Jaybird and Mais division, which includes medium-sized schools with between 1,000 and 1,999 students.
“The competition was especially grueling this year as the online test was scheduled for the day after AP exams and the practical was held the day after LCHS final exams,” wrote sports medicine coach Kim Crosby in an email. “The students were juggling a lot. Despite this, there was a great energy among the five girls who qualified for the practical exam as they practiced their hands-on skills prior to their tests.”
Students in the top 25 in the division are awarded “All American” status, including LCHS’s Mueller; Paris Papac and Sophia Barber (who tied for fourth place); Solenn Matuska (ninth); Emily Truong (11th) and Sonia Vaze (21st.)
