Journey from the Majors to Motivator

By ISABELLA CUADRADO

When most students think of Mr. Powers, they picture a health or P.E. teacher. Some may know him as the passionate leader of Washingtonville’s coaching class. But what many don’t realize is that before he was shaping the lives of Wizards, Mr. Powers was working with some of the best athletes in the world, as an athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox.

Yes, that Red Sox. The ones at Fenway. The ones on TV.

His path to the big leagues started with a tough break, literally. “In the summer of my senior year, I was playing basketball and one of my friends landed on my foot, breaking one of the bones,” he explained. Sidelined from football, he spent time with his school’s athletic trainer, sparking a passion for the field. After earning one of just 14 spots in SUNY Cortland’s athletic training program, he landed an internship with the Red Sox. “It’s something I will never forget.”

One unforgettable moment? “It was 10:00 in the morning on a beautiful day. I was 21 years old, and I was having a catch with Tom ‘Flash’ Gordon,” he said. “One of the challenges was to play it cool and be professional, while at the same time I was freaking out because I had watched all of these guys on TV the year before. Plus, I’m a Red Sox fan which made it even harder not to ask for autographs.”

He was later offered a position as head trainer for their minor league team, but turned it down. “In October of 2000, when I finished working with the Red Sox, I got married. I didn’t want to leave my wife for weeks at a time and go on the road. I knew I wanted to have kids and be there for them.” While some questioned his decision, he has no regrets. “I get to see my five kids each day and be a big part of their lives.”

That same priority led him to leave athletic training altogether, even after serving as Washingtonville High School’s athletic trainer. “Athletic training requires long hours, and I wanted to be there to read bedtime stories, see recitals, and coach Little League,” he shared. Teaching, he said, gave him the chance to pass on what he learned. “I’ve always been passionate about health, and I’ve enjoyed sharing that with students for over 20 years.”

Today, Mr. Powers teaches health, P.E., and one of Washingtonville’s most unique classes, Coaching Certification. While the course existed before he took over, he has transformed it with hands-on experiences like athletic taping and ‘Fun Fridays.’ “When I hear from former students who are now coaching or studying kinesiology, it motivates me to be the best teacher I can be. I think Washingtonville is still the only high school in the state that offers this course.”

From Fenway to Washingtonville, Mr. Powers’ story is a reminder that sometimes the most valuable victories don’t come with trophies, but with impact, and he’s been scoring big for years.