TRAVERSE CITY — Lynn Lombard is a Traverse City native and for the last 40 years has been an integral part of the Traverse City Saint Francis Athletic Program, serving as the physical trainer.
She began as a physical therapist in the area and took over the role with the Gladiators after her coworker stepped down. She hasn’t looked back.
“Mixed emotions, there really is mixed emotions,” she said. ”I tried along the way this year, knowing it was going to be the final year to enjoy, I’ve had the fortune of working with some amazing coaches, amazing administration.
We’ve been very successful. If you look around the gym, you see all the banners, you know, six state championships in football. All of them just really unique, down to, you know, a baseball state championship to being down at the finals and both with boys and girls basketball. You know, those things have been just fun experiences on top of just everyday things” (Lombard).
She retired from being an active physical therapist last year and decided that this would be her last year with the school as well, though that doesn’t mean she won’t remain a big Saint Francis fan.
“I knew that all the while, I wasn’t quite ready to let go here, but I knew it was coming close. And it’s just time, and I’m not going away. I’ll still come to games, I told Aaron Biggar, the Athletic director, that I’ll be a good volunteer for him, I’m just not going to run anything where I have to be here every night. It’s a season-long and it’s commitment. So, it’s just time for a little schedule freedom”.
Lynn says she’s now reached the second generation of students she worked with in the past. And though it’s a funny feeling, giving back to the students makes it all worthwhile.
“You’re kind of the person where they can be a little looser with. Sometimes it’s a matter of just teaching a lot to kids who don’t know as much about their bodies. How do you stay healthy? How do you get healthy? What do you have to do? Helping them sometimes understand that you have to get through the mental right? A lot of times when you’re 15 and 16, you’re invincible, and you like to make sure they get through it emotionally.
Lynn’s impact and dedication to Saint Francis will surely be missed, and the part she played in the Gladiators’ growth and success won’t soon be forgotten.
“I had one of my freshmen tell me yesterday that he realizes that I’m going to be going away, but you make a good ice pack, sure to him that the next person will make a very good ice pack also,” Lombard said.