With all the athletics Ouachita has to offer, one must ask what happens when one of these athletes gets hurt. When a shoulder gets dislocated, an ankle sprained or a muscle made sore, who comes to the rescue?
Whenever there is an injury, Amber Northam and Brandon Jones come to save the day and use their methods of healing to fix whatever comes their way.
Misty Gouge could not stop singing Northam’s praises.
“She takes care of me,” Misty said. “She’s always taking time out of her busy schedule to take care of my injuries. I’ve had really bad problems with my ankles, she has helped me strengthen them. Also, go ahead and throw in shoulders and I think my back at one point, too.”
Northam is always there for any athlete who needs help. When I sprained my MCL (interior tendon in my knee) a day before official volleyball practice started, she was there to help me and nurse me back to playing strength. Without her support, injury-wise and just as a friend, I would not be as agile on the court today.
“I like to help out my athletes in their greatest need,” Northam said. “It’s not just tape and ice. It’s concussions, blow-outn shoulders, back injuries, ER visits, dehydration, infections and broken bones.”
As a student herself, she said that she always had a fascination with the human body, skeletal system and muscles and tendons.
“She is outstanding,” Jones said of his colleague. “She is very creative, always thinking. If she were to leave, it would take two to replace her.”
For Northam being a native Californian, the trip to Ouachita was worth it.
“In a smaller environment, we’re able to build better relationships with athletes than at bigger schools,” she said. Another contributing factor was the already solid program that was here.
“I came to OBU (from Angelo University in California) because I wanted to work with Brandon (Jones). It’s the absolute truth.”
Jones, and Ouachita alumnus himself, thinks it is great how things worked out to bring him back. “I generally enjoy our athletes a lot,” he said. (OBU athletes) love what they do.”
Jones works with all of the athletes, but has a special job of working with the football team.
“When we need him, he steps in,” said David Hollis, senior football player. “He’s more than the average trainer. He has incredible knowledge in athletic training.”
Jones takes great pride in what he does. “It’s worth working through the madness. It’s all about rehab. Here’s what’s hurt, here’s what we’re going to do to get things better.”
