Pumping up its commitment to San Clemente, Hoag invested in a full remodel of San Clemente High School’s Athletic Training Room. The upgraded facility was officially unveiled on October 27 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by school leaders, hospital representatives and local officials.
The modernized facility is designed to enhance the care, preparation, and recovery of San Clemente’s high school athletes.
“The investment in our local athletes reflects Hoag’s commitment to the health, safety and long-term success of the San Clemente community,” said Robert T. Braithwaite, President and CEO of Hoag.
As the 1996 Tritons football team captain and now principal of San Clemente High School, Dr. Brad Baker welcomed the renovation and opportunity to collaborate with Hoag as a dedicated community partner.
“Collaborations like this strengthen the bond between our students and the community at large,” Dr. Baker said. “I wish I had had an Athletics Training Room like this one.”
The remodeled room includes upgraded equipment, including taping stations, physical therapy tables and a Game-Ready compression therapy unit, which helps get athletes back in the game post-injury. The room also underwent what SCHS students might describe as a “glow-up,” with new flooring, lighting, wall graphics, cabinetry and fresh paint.
Fully stocked cabinets with essential supplies will support athletic training and injury prevention – an important theme in the renovation, said Matt Poston, San Clemente Athletics Director, who experienced a career-shifting football injury in college.
“This new space will help foster a year-round approach to athletic health for our athletes and help them prioritize both their long-term wellbeing and their short-term performance,” Poston said. “It’s a win for our community and a win for our athletes.”
Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Chris Brown noted that this is not the first collaboration between the high school and the hospital. Hoag was the first industry partner in the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce’s Futures Program, which paired a sports medicine physician and registered nurse with SCHS students who were interested in careers in sports medicine.
“Hoag has proven time and again that they are a strong partner in our community,” he said. “By educating our student athletes in injury prevention and wellness today, we hope to launch a new generation of community leaders dedicated to healthy living tomorrow.”
