As high school football and other sports teams across Utah ramp up for the season, early morning workouts are already underway. Players are pushing through drills that build strength, speed and skill — and keeping them safe is just as important. At Woods Cross High School, that job falls to Shawna Richards, a certified athletic trainer with Intermountain Health. She’s part of a growing network of full-time trainers placed in Utah high schools, ensuring student-athletes have immediate access to expert care both on and off the field. And her role is much more than just taping ankles on the sidelines. “When you see that person standing on the sideline with a bag and they run out onto the field to help the player — that’s an athletic trainer,” Richards explained.