Mary Britt of Lewiston shifts into high gear when an athlete gets injured at Lewiston High School.

Britt is a certified athletic trainer under contract with Select Physical Therapy. She has been working the sidelines for the past 15 years, having come from a position at Mt. Desert Island eight years ago. She received her degree in kinesiology, with an emphasis in athletic training from the University of New Hampshire. 

Britt conducts an injury clinic daily from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the high school. She is at every home game watching over her Blue Devil athletes on the sidelines, on the field, and in clinic and in follow-up for post-injury therapies.

“I am there, watching, looking at injuries, assessing, evaluating, treating, deciding whether or not an ambulance needs to be called, talking to the athletes to determine what has happened,” Britt said.

Being “there” involves upwards of 200 games a year, Britt estimates, after checking in with a colleague.

“We have three football teams, two field hockey teams, six basketball teams,” not to mention “the hockey games, baseball, in- and outdoor track, swimming, lacrosse, tennis, and softball.”

The home sports schedule keeps Britt busy six days a week for about 50 hours each week. She responds to the injuries and treatment needs of both home and visiting teams, offering “heat, ice, wrapping, padding, whatever needs to be done,” she said.

For Britt, the satisfaction is seeing an athlete through an injury, therapy and rehabilitation to the point where they can compete again. Often this involves not just the athlete but the athlete’s family as well. 

“It’s fun to be with high school kids for four years. I see them daily and I get to know the kids, their families, and see them through the rehab (when needed). We get them back as quickly and safely as possible.”

Though she is reluctant to admit that she gets paid to watch sports, she proudly said, “It’s fun to see them do well and go to the state games.”

During the summer, Britt has offered a six-week program called Jump Start.

“It is an injury prevention camp that works on running form, sprint training, helping kids jump higher, ACL prevention, and conditioning,”  she said.

When asked about the types of injuries she sees most, Britt said, “Football generates the most injuries, ankle sprains being the most common.”

As for the most serious ones she has seen, “In layman’s terms, a couple of blown-out shoulders, knees, shoulder dislocations, and a few very serious concussions.”