More Than an Athletic Trainer: Meet Tylann “Ty” Ith

One quote that has helped her through difficult moments is, “The only way out is through.” For WHS’s new athletic trainer, Tylann Ith (who goes by “Ty”), the quote is a reminder to keep going even when things get difficult.

For many athletes, the athletic trainer is the person they see when they get hurt. But for Ty, being a trainer is about more than injuries. As the new athletic trainer at our school, she wants to get to know student athletes and be part of their lives beyond their sports.

At 25 years old, Ty graduated from Southern Connecticut State University, where she majored in sports training. Ty has a background in sports herself; she was a Division I athlete, playing both basketball and soccer. Her experiences as an athlete helped her realize that she wanted to work in sports.

One person who had a big impact on that decision was her high school athletic trainer, Emily Renna. Ty said Emily Renna made her interested in athletic training and showed her how much of a difference an athletic trainer can make.

Ty grew up between Connecticut and Massachusetts and eventually attended Danbury High School. She also grew up in a big family with six sisters. Having so many siblings meant she was always surrounded by people, which helped her learn the importance of having a strong support system.

Helping others has always been important to her. In college, one of her favorite things was being involved in community events, including toy drives, soup kitchens, and back-to-school events.

Now, Ty brings that same attitude of compassion, enthusiasm, and commitment to helping to her work with students. Her favorite part of the job is getting to know the people she works with and watching them grow. She enjoys seeing students go from freshmen to seniors and getting to know them along the way.

Her least favorite part of the job is having to tell an athlete that they cannot play. Although sitting out can be frustrating, she knows that sometimes it is necessary to keep an athlete safe; she is focused on making an impact here. She wants students to see her as someone who cares about them as people, not just as athletes.

She may be here to help students when they get injured, but Ty hopes students will see her as much more than that.