This year track and field has over 300 participants at LSHS, and that is only track and field athletes, which does not include other spring sports like boys baseball, girls softball, boys soccer and girls and boys golf.
Head athletic trainer Mariah Luedtke takes care of every one of those kids. They all depend on her whenever they get hurt or injured.
Luedtke started working with athletes during fall sports.
During the spring season, she deals with more athletes than in the other seasons combined. “One sport alone there are a lot of kids. But obviously, like the other sports, baseball,
softball, tennis, and golf… they all require different things from me. They might have smaller teams, but I still see a majority of those kids as well,” Luedtke said.
Being an athletic trainer is no light work, there are currently five sports running at the high school.
“I think the hardest part is the days that I have multiple games or events going on at once. So like specifically, baseball typically has one or two home games a week; softball two – and I’m required to be at those games. So when I’m at baseball or softball, the track kids kind of have to come and find me, and if they need me, I’m kind of just being torn to different places,” Luedtke said.
She has many athletes relying on her to be there to care for them, due to mandatory attendance at the home baseball games, softball games, and track meets, which are anywhere from 2-4 times a week.
Luedtke isn’t always alone when it comes to handling all the athletes. She has a small team of people helping her as assistants. One example is senior Citalin Lopez, who is one of the longest-reigning assistants, as she started at the beginning of her sophomore year.
“I help tape when it’s needed and bring ice and help with anything when she needs it,” Lopez said.

LSHS sports medicine teacher Erik Mahler was an athletic trainer for 21 years, at schools like Seattle University, Bellevue High School, and Mountlake Terrace High School.
“Athletic training was a lot harder for me. The amount of time you have to spend and put into it and work with so many different people, it’s super hard,” Mahler said.
Many athletes have been wondering and asking Luedtke if she is leaving LSHS next year, because LSHS has had three different athletic trainers in the last two years, including Luedtke.
“And I just have to say, I’ve enjoyed working at Lake Stevens, and to quell everyone’s worries, I will not be leaving next year. So for everyone wondering, I’m here for another year,” Luedtke said.
Many students would have many things to say about how amazing Luedtke is at her job,
“Mariah is a great help to all the athletes, she is a great person to rely on, especially in a vulnerable moment when you are injured,” said Lopez.
All LSHS athletes love her, and she will continue to help every LSHS sports team have a successful season by helping them with the most important thing they have to offer, their health and their physical ability to be able to play.