In celebration of National Athletic Training Month and Women’s History Month, we’re shining a light on Nimitz High School student athletic trainer Myllie Garcia-Salazar. Garcia-Salazar, now a junior, has been a part of the sports medicine program at Nimitz since her freshman year. She credits the program for fostering her passion for sports medicine.
“I decided to join the program my freshman year because a good friend recommended it to me,” says Garcia-Salazar. “In middle school, I wasn’t really into sports, but when I entered high school, I quickly realized how much sports are a big part of the campus experience. I wanted to be involved in athletics without actually playing a sport, and this was the perfect opportunity.”
As a student athletic trainer, Garcia-Salazar plays a crucial role in supporting Nimitz athletes year-round. From July to November, she and her fellow student trainers work with the football team during summer practices and throughout the season. After football, they transition to soccer and basketball before ending the year with baseball and softball. It’s various hands-on experiences like this that have grown Garcia-Salazar’s love for athletic training. But her favorite part is the relationships she’s built along the way.
“My coaches, Coach Jessa Salinas and Coach Hector Perez, are the best and have taught me so much. I’ve also formed bonds with many of the athletes – some who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. We truly have an amazing community,” she adds.
Garcia-Salazar also states that she’s incredibly proud to be a part of an all-female sports medicine team at Nimitz, a rare and empowering experience.
“People are starting to recognize how much we do and how vital we are to the teams. Seeing a woman-led program thrive in this field is inspiring. Coach Jess (Jessa Salinas) was a tennis player, and she’s made this program a wonderful program for students to grow and succeed.”
When asked what advice she would give to young girls interested in athletic training, Garcia-Salazar says, “Don’t be intimidated. Working with some of the teams can seem overwhelming at first, but honestly, the players are more nervous around us than we are around them! It’s an incredible experience, and I encourage anyone to give it a chance.”
Beyond sports medicine, Garcia-Salazar is heavily involved in multiple student organizations, including Student Council, Choir, Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), and the Education Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway, where she has an on-campus internship as a student teacher. In addition, she’s also a 2024-2025 Irving ISD Student Influencer. Through Irving ISD’s diverse programs, Garcia-Salazar has found countless opportunities to develop leadership skills, foster strong connections and make a difference on campus and districtwide.
As she looks ahead, Garcia-Salazar is set on continuing her journey in sports medicine after high school. She plans to attend an in-state college to major in sports medicine with hopes of coming back and working in a high school setting as an educator and trainer.
Garcia-Salazar is a shining example of how students in Irving ISD are breaking barriers and paving the way for the future. To learn more about our Sports Medicine program, visit IrvingISD.net/SportsMedicine.
