Latest news with #studentathletes
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Atrium Health gives free health screenings to 2,000 student athletes
Atrium Health hosted its 17th annual 'Heart of a Champion' day on Saturday and provided free health screenings to thousands of student athletes. Organizers said the event provided free health screenings to more than 2,000 local student athletes. Advertisement The event included Atrium's orthopedic and heart teams working to identify orthopedic and cardiac conditions. The screenings included musculoskeletal exams, heart checks, vision screenings, and general medical evaluations. 'We focus on what basic sports physicals may miss,' said Dr. David Price, medical director for Atrium Health Sports Medicine and Special Events. 'A young athlete may feel perfectly fine, but we conduct heart ECG screenings that can detect conditions potentially putting their safety at risk during high-intensity activities. With ECGs interpreted by our specialists, we've identified athletes over the years with conditions that could have had significant consequences if left undiagnosed.' Since the first year of the event, organizers said the teams have evaluated 22,188 students. To learn more about the Heart of a Champion day, visit the Atrium Health website. WATCH: Carolina Strong: The group of students collecting school supplies for teachers in need
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cheer coaches accused of putting a team member in hospital after grueling workout - and its not the first time its happened at the school
The family of a North Texas high school cheerleader is suing three of the school's former coaches after their extreme workouts allegedly landed the girl in hospital. According to the lawsuit, while employed by Rockwall Heath High School, the defendants would force the students to do strenuous exercises — like 50 burpees with pushups in five minutes — as a form of punishment. Michael Sawicki, the attorney representing the cheerleader, told NBC DFW that his client was already feeling ill and even had a doctor's note saying she was sick, but social pressures compelled her to try to push through the workout. A week later she was in the hospital suffering from rhabdomyolysis, according to the lawsuit. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which the skeletal muscle tissue breaks down and releases its contents into the bloodstream, and it can be caused by overuse of the muscles. When the skeletal muscle material enters the bloodstream, it can potentially lead to kidney failure. 'There was pressure by the teachers that if you don't perform you don't get to go, you don't get to participate in activities. You don't get to be on the squad, and for young kids that really want to be on a team, that's a powerful motivation to work through the pain,' Sawicki said. 'And that's exactly what happened to the boys in the football case.' It's not the first time the school has been linked to a case of rhabdomyolysis among its student athletes, either. In 2023, several football players from the high school were hospitalized and reportedly diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis after being forced to do similarly grueling exercises, Sawicki, who represented a handful of players in lawsuits, said. 'This is Rockwall Heath High School. The exact same high school where the 20+ boys that we know of were hospitalized or required treatment after a football workout,' Sawicki said. 'If I had gotten this call about another school in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, yeah maybe I could understand. This is the same exact school.' One of the findings in that case was the need for better education for the teachers about the potential risks associated with extreme physical activity. Sawicki said that "in the football investigation, there were discussions about how [rhabdomyolysis] training needed to be a part of it." According to the cheerleader's lawsuit, a one of the coaches allegedly admitted that she had "no rhabdomyolysis training," and said that in hindsight "I would not assign [burpees] again." All three of the coaches named in the lawsuit have resigned their positions on the cheer team. A Rockwall Independent School District investigation found that the "three teachers' actions violated at least five different district policies," according to the report. The investigation determined that the cheer coaches "did not follow the doctor's orders" in its handling of the sick cheerleader, and noted that "there is a lack of knowledge and training by the coaches regarding rhabdomyolysis." Initially the girl's parents just wanted the school to pay for her medical bills, but the Sawicki claims the school "dragged out" the appeals process for months and then determined that "by law, please know that the district is unable to provide compensation because such compensation would be a prohibited gift of public funds." After that, the parents decided to sue. The Independent has requested comment from Rockwall ISD.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Cheer coaches accused of putting a team member in hospital after grueling workout - and its not the first time its happened at the school
The family of a North Texas high school cheerleader is suing three of the school's former coaches after their extreme workouts allegedly landed the girl in hospital. According to the lawsuit, while employed by Rockwall Heath High School, the defendants would force the students to do strenuous exercises — like 50 burpees with pushups in five minutes — as a form of punishment. Michael Sawicki, the attorney representing the cheerleader, told NBC DFW that his client was already feeling ill and even had a doctor's note saying she was sick, but social pressures compelled her to try to push through the workout. A week later she was in the hospital suffering from rhabdomyolysis, according to the lawsuit. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which the skeletal muscle tissue breaks down and releases its contents into the bloodstream, and it can be caused by overuse of the muscles. When the skeletal muscle material enters the bloodstream, it can potentially lead to kidney failure. 'There was pressure by the teachers that if you don't perform you don't get to go, you don't get to participate in activities. You don't get to be on the squad, and for young kids that really want to be on a team, that's a powerful motivation to work through the pain,' Sawicki said. 'And that's exactly what happened to the boys in the football case.' It's not the first time the school has been linked to a case of rhabdomyolysis among its student athletes, either. In 2023, several football players from the high school were hospitalized and reportedly diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis after being forced to do similarly grueling exercises, Sawicki, who represented a handful of players in lawsuits, said. 'This is Rockwall Heath High School. The exact same high school where the 20+ boys that we know of were hospitalized or required treatment after a football workout,' Sawicki said. 'If I had gotten this call about another school in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, yeah maybe I could understand. This is the same exact school.' One of the findings in that case was the need for better education for the teachers about the potential risks associated with extreme physical activity. Sawicki said that "in the football investigation, there were discussions about how [rhabdomyolysis] training needed to be a part of it." According to the cheerleader's lawsuit, a one of the coaches allegedly admitted that she had "no rhabdomyolysis training," and said that in hindsight "I would not assign [burpees] again." All three of the coaches named in the lawsuit have resigned their positions on the cheer team. A Rockwall Independent School District investigation found that the "three teachers' actions violated at least five different district policies," according to the report. The investigation determined that the cheer coaches "did not follow the doctor's orders" in its handling of the sick cheerleader, and noted that "there is a lack of knowledge and training by the coaches regarding rhabdomyolysis." Initially the girl's parents just wanted the school to pay for her medical bills, but the Sawicki claims the school "dragged out" the appeals process for months and then determined that "by law, please know that the district is unable to provide compensation because such compensation would be a prohibited gift of public funds." After that, the parents decided to sue.
Malay Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
California high school sports body forced to revise entry rules after Trump threatens funding cut over trans teen athlete
WASHINGTON, May 28 — The governing body for California high school sports yesterday said it would change its entry rules to allow more female athletes in this week's track and field championships, after demands from President Donald Trump to stop a transgender girl from competing. Earlier in the day, Trump had threatened to withhold federal funding if California did not stop a transgender girl in high school from competing in state track and field finals, and said he would discuss it with Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday. According to NBC-affiliated KCRA TV station, Newsom's office clarified that the new California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) pilot entry process also means events this weekend will score separately for transgender students. 'CIF's proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness,' the TV station quoted Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for Newsom, as saying. 'The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.' Newsom's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. The CIF said in a statement that it would invite 'any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark' to compete in the 2025 State Track and Field Championships. The body said it 'values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code.' Trump, in his social media post, appeared to be referring to 16-year-old AB Hernandez, who has qualified to compete in the long jump, high jump and triple jump championship run by the CIF at a high school in Clovis, California, this weekend. Hernandez could not be immediately reached for comment. CIF is the governing body for California high school sports, and its bylaws state that all students 'should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity.' California law prohibits discrimination, including at schools, based on gender identity. Trump, a Republican, referred in his social media post on Tuesday to California's governor as a 'Radical Left Democrat' and said: 'THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.' He said he was ordering local authorities not to allow the transgender athlete to compete in the finals. Under the U.S. and California constitutions, state and local officials and individuals are not subject to orders of the president, who can generally only issue orders to agencies and members of the federal government's executive branch. Trump threatened that 'large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently,' if his demands are not met. Such a move would almost certainly lead to a legal challenge by California, which has already sued over multiple Trump actions it says are illegal or unconstitutional. Trump also referred to comments Newsom made on his podcast in March when the governor also said he believed competition involving transgender girls was 'deeply unfair.' A spokesperson for Newsom declined to comment on Trump's remarks, but referred to comments Newsom made in April when he said overturning California's 12-year-old law allowing trans athletes to participate in sports was not a priority. 'You're talking about a very small number of people,' Newsom told reporters. Out of the 5.8 million students in California's public school system, there are estimated to be fewer than 10 active trans student-athletes, according to the governor's office. Some local school officials and parents have sought to prevent Hernandez from competing; others have spoken in support of Hernandez and condemned what they say is bullying of a teenager. In an interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez dismissed claims she has an unfair biological advantage in sports, noting that while she had placed first in a triple jump event this month, she came in eighth in the high jump and third in the long jump. 'All I thought was, I don't think you understand that this puts your idiotic claims to trash,' Hernandez said of her mixed showing. — Reuters
Malay Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Trump threatens funding cut over trans teen in California track meet; state revises entry rules
WASHINGTON, May 28 — The governing body for California high school sports yesterday said it would change its entry rules to allow more female athletes in this week's track and field championships, after demands from President Donald Trump to stop a transgender girl from competing. Earlier in the day, Trump had threatened to withhold federal funding if California did not stop a transgender girl in high school from competing in state track and field finals, and said he would discuss it with Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday. According to NBC-affiliated KCRA TV station, Newsom's office clarified that the new California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) pilot entry process also means events this weekend will score separately for transgender students. 'CIF's proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness,' the TV station quoted Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for Newsom, as saying. 'The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.' Newsom's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. The CIF said in a statement that it would invite 'any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark' to compete in the 2025 State Track and Field Championships. The body said it 'values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code.' Trump, in his social media post, appeared to be referring to 16-year-old AB Hernandez, who has qualified to compete in the long jump, high jump and triple jump championship run by the CIF at a high school in Clovis, California, this weekend. Hernandez could not be immediately reached for comment. CIF is the governing body for California high school sports, and its bylaws state that all students 'should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity.' California law prohibits discrimination, including at schools, based on gender identity. Trump, a Republican, referred in his social media post on Tuesday to California's governor as a 'Radical Left Democrat' and said: 'THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.' He said he was ordering local authorities not to allow the transgender athlete to compete in the finals. Under the U.S. and California constitutions, state and local officials and individuals are not subject to orders of the president, who can generally only issue orders to agencies and members of the federal government's executive branch. Trump threatened that 'large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently,' if his demands are not met. Such a move would almost certainly lead to a legal challenge by California, which has already sued over multiple Trump actions it says are illegal or unconstitutional. Trump also referred to comments Newsom made on his podcast in March when the governor also said he believed competition involving transgender girls was 'deeply unfair.' A spokesperson for Newsom declined to comment on Trump's remarks, but referred to comments Newsom made in April when he said overturning California's 12-year-old law allowing trans athletes to participate in sports was not a priority. 'You're talking about a very small number of people,' Newsom told reporters. Out of the 5.8 million students in California's public school system, there are estimated to be fewer than 10 active trans student-athletes, according to the governor's office. Some local school officials and parents have sought to prevent Hernandez from competing; others have spoken in support of Hernandez and condemned what they say is bullying of a teenager. In an interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez dismissed claims she has an unfair biological advantage in sports, noting that while she had placed first in a triple jump event this month, she came in eighth in the high jump and third in the long jump. 'All I thought was, I don't think you understand that this puts your idiotic claims to trash,' Hernandez said of her mixed showing. — Reuters
