Fillion Settles into Role as BHS Athletic Trainer
By KEN HAMWEY,
Bulletin Sports Writer
Rebecca Fillion, who’s known to students as “Becka,’’ is closing in on her first year as Bellingham High’s athletic trainer. Comfortable with her transition to BHS, she says she “likes being a positive figure in student-athletes’ lives.’’
That comment doesn’t surprise Athletic Director Michael Connor, who saw the 33-year-old Fillion as a valuable addition to the athletic department — in a variety of ways.
“Becka has raised the bar in the athletic training room and has made an indelible impression on our student-athletes,’’ Connor emphasized. “And, her background as a physical fitness coach was a big plus in the redesign of our weight room/fitness center.’’
Connor not only is impressed with Fillion’s athletic training skill-set, but he also admires her work ethic.
“In addition to teaching two classes most days at 5 and 6 a.m. at a fitness gym in Natick, Becka arrives at BHS daily at noon and is on site until the final game/practice of the day with responsibility for hundreds of home games each year between mid-August and mid-June,’’ he noted. “If the Blackhawks are competing, Becka is there.’’
The BHS weight room/fitness center has undergone a major facelift after 24 years, and it’s up-and-running now. Fillion was heavily involved in the layout of the facility, helped choose much of the equipment and provided insight into the workout routines, which can be accessed by checking out the school’s athletic page on Bellinghamk12.org.
What was once a room filled with old equipment now boasts a “CrossFit” feel with equipment provided by Gronk Fitness.
Connor notes that the upgraded fitness center meets a variety of needs.
“We now have space to serve the needs of 16 sports and the 400-plus student-athletes who annually participate on more than 55 interscholastic teams,’’ he said. “And, we also use the facility for physical education classes.’’
The weight room/fitness center incorporates both a turfed space for yoga, balance balls, battle ropes, and push sleds, and more traditional spaces for cardio fitness (bike, elliptical, rowing, and treadmills). There’s also room for cable equipment, dumbbells, five-squat/bench racks, and 6,000 pounds of weights.
Funding for the fitness center was achieved in a very efficient manner — from user fees, savings on transportation costs and from community sponsorships.
Fillion has developed seven custom workout programs for coaches and players to implement for both in-season and out-of-season workouts.
“Where programs for football/wrestling/throwers may have similarities, they differ dramatically from the needs of cheerleaders or baseball/softball players,’’ Connor said. “While the space will be used during school hours for phys ed classes, we envision that some teams, supervised by coaches, will make use of the space before school, after school and evenings (effectively available from 6 am to 8 p.m.).’’
The programs along with photos of the weight room/fitness center are available for review on the athletic training section of the athletics web page.
Fillion’s athletic background is extensive and compact. She earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training in 2014 at the University of New Hampshire where she was an honor student. She was certified and licensed as a trainer before she was hired at Lawrence Academy, a private boarding school in Groton that had students at the freshman, jayvee and varsity levels.
“There were many high-level athletes there from all over the country who were serious about playing sports at Division 1 colleges,’’ Fillion noted. “I later worked for seven years at Dr. Stephen Simpson’s orthopedic office in Ayer in a variety of roles. My final position before coming to Bellingham was as Uxbridge High’s athletic trainer. I left after a year when budget issues and cuts were prevalent.’’
A native of Ashland, Fillion was not only a promising athlete at Ashland High, but also a three-time state champion. “I competed in softball for three years and was a cheerleader for four,’’ she said. “One state title came in cheerleading, and we were two-time state champs in softball.’’
Fillion views her primary function at BHS as “a trainer who evaluates, treats and prevents injuries.’’
“What I like about working at Bellingham High is the multitude of sports available,’’ she said. “More sports mean more challenges, which keep me on my toes and enable me to use my skill-sets more. This is my third school setting, and it’s definitely the one with the most students competing. It’s a challenge, but I try to be available for all of our student-athletes.’’
Fillion says she sees success when injured athletes return to compete. “It feels good to see kids get back onto a gym floor or a field,’’ she offered. “But I also like it when athletes will stop by my office when they’re out of season to chat or tell me something about what’s going on in their lives.’’
Fillion is making a difference at BHS, and her fingerprints are definitely visible in the Blackhawks’ upgraded weight room/fitness center, which is now more focused on CrossFit skills, agility, endurance and strength.