Spend some time inside Turlock High School’s athletic training room adjacent to Bulldog Arena, a common phrase you’d hear is “not ideal.” Whether it be the size of the space, the type of equipment and their functionality, or just its outdated look. Most people know there is potential for improvement.

One of those people is Sarah Galvan, who happens to spend plenty of time in the facility as she shadows athletic trainer Tiana Barron. Galvan, a senior, may be a familiar face to the Bulldog faithful as she is regularly spotted beside Barron to treat injured players on their respective fields, courts, courses and pools, gaining valuable experience as she prepares to study sports medicine in college. 

This fall, Galvan took the initiative, choosing to significantly update the room as part of her Eagle Project.

“A lot of old stuff, a bunch of things Tiana or anybody really don’t use, and just the inconvenience of it being so crammed in here all the time made me realize how necessary it was to try to update it as part of my Eagle Project,” explained Galvan, who is a Life Scout for Turlock’s Scouts BSA Troop 2451. “Tiana is just one person, and things can get pretty overwhelming for her, so I just wanted to help.”

Galvan is the chapter president of the school’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club, and it’s her interest in athletic training that made it a natural decision to lend a helping hand to the school’s trainer and program.

“Sarah started working with me at the start of this school year, and when we’d hang out, she was testing the waters, asking me what I’d want different,” said Barron, who has served as Turlock High’s athletic trainer for almost two years. She is also the first female athletic trainer in the school’s history.

“The main thing was space, and our focus was on how to better utilize it and make the most of it,” Barron continued. “Because there are a lot of things in the way that aren’t always being used, and it can get real crazy when 19 students come in at the same time. So we just want to have more room to accommodate everyone and make sure they all get their treatment.”

There are roughly 700 student-athletes at Turlock High School. Galvan said they treat up to 90 in the training room on their busiest days.

The renovation is already underway. Galvan, custodial staff and school administration aim to have it mostly completed in the coming weeks. 

Galvan’s goals are listed on a paper that she had handed out to community organizations throughout the week when asking for donations to support the project — enhancing safety and confront for student-athletes, increasing efficiency for athletic trainers, accommodate higher volumes of students in need of care, and updating equipment and layout of the room for aesthetic and functionality.

For years, the space had become cluttered with old, unused supplies and outdated, unworkable machinery. Galvan, with help from school and district administration, created a layout of what they’d like the revamped room to look like. She, family and friends, and custodial staff then spent most of the winter break throwing things out, like broken cabinets and machines. She then confided in her mother and sports medicine instructor Bernadette, Barron, and the folks at KW Recovery Lab in Turlock for recommendations on what new equipment to purchase, including two whirlpool tubs, five treatment tables, a dedicated taping station and physical therapy equipment.

Other improvements will be new storage cabinets for water jugs, towels and hygiene products. They’ll also install a new sink to replace the current one which is constantly leaking, a sanitization station, a fresh paint job, and new flooring.

Galvan estimates the cost of the project to be $20,000. So far, they have received donations from KW Recovery Lab, Paul’s Paint Company, Dunn-Edwards Paints, the Kayla Bernardi Bee Positive Foundation and Ciara’s Circle of Hope Foundation.

Those interested in pitching in can do so by Venmoing @BSATroops451-2451, donating at www.gofundme.com/f/help-renovate-turlock-hs-athletic-training-room, or email bgalvan@turlock.k12.ca.us. 

Barron encouraged community members to help Galvan reach her goal.

“I know Christmas just ended, but any donation would be much appreciated,” she said. “All of this, 100% of all donations will be going towards this project to help our student-athletes.

“We just want a space for all of them and give them a room to appropriately treat them and help them perform their best. It would be much appreciated.”

If Galvan were to successfully complete her project and eventually earn Eagle Scout honors, she would join her brothers, Jacob and David of Troop 451, in earning the prestigious rank.