Before Allie Tilley took the athletic training position at Oglethorpe County High School in mid-July, she worked for Dr. Jonathan Payne at Piedmont Athens Regional, assisting in surgeries and helping him with clinical work.
Then, she started to feel the itch to go back to athletic training.
“My heart has always been at the high school and at this kind of level with students,” Tilley said.
Tilley worked at Clarke Central High School for four years, and Westminster Christian Academy in Watkinsville prior to her transition to the hospital.
As the only athletic trainer at Clarke Central, and with a large pool of athletes to cover, she said she began to feel overwhelmed and overworked, which led to her move to Piedmont Athens.
When the position at OCHS opened, Tilley said she pursued the job because of the smaller number of athletes, the presence of a University of Georgia athletic training intern, and her desire to work with high school students.
“It’s really something to see somebody go through a hard injury, and then see them play again,” Tilley said.
Tilley is from Albany, Georgia, and she has 10 years of experience in athletic training. She received her undergraduate degree at UGA, and her master’s from the University of South Florida. She started working at USF as an athletic trainer for its softball team before moving home to Georgia.
Because of Tilley’s connections with Payne, she said she can help Oglethorpe County athletes schedule appointments the same day or same week so they can be treated faster.
“Allie’s been a great addition,” co-athletic director Mike Holland said. “She’s no-nonsense. If they’re really hurt, she takes really good care of them, but she’s not gonna just tape you to make you look pretty.”
Tilley is at OCHS every day for practices and games, and the services she offers are free and accessible to all OCHS athletes.
“They don’t have to have insurance to come see us,” Tilley said. “It’s really a nice thing to have at the school to provide medical care for them.”
Athletes are encouraged to come to Tilley to check on an injury, skin condition or soreness before making an appointment with the doctor. She also does rehabilitation programs and exercises for past and present injuries, emergency care, treatment and consultations.
“At the end of the day, (my goal is) to make sure the kids get home safe and sound,” Tilley said.