Photos by Saavri Biswal & Sam Jezak
After eight years of coaching, training, and assisting athletes in recovery at Pinewood, athletic trainer and K-12 Health and Safety Coordinator Theresa Maksim is leaving for her dream nursing job in Santa Barbara, Calif. During her time at Pinewood, Maksim assisted in all different aspects of the athletic department. Whether it was helping athletes recover from serious injuries, training the football team, or coaching the swim team, Maksim provided expertise for the athletes.
Many athletes at Pinewood can attest to this. For junior Daniel Blotter, Maksim’s knowledge about player safety allowed him to play football.
“Knowing that she was always there [and] knowing that she knew whether or not I should play gave [my mom] a lot of comfort,” Blotter said. Junior Teau Tongi echoed these sentiments.
As a member of the swim team, senior Saavri Biswal was also able to build a strong relationship with Maksim.
“She’s very motivating and her workouts were hard, but they were always fun,” Biswal said. Despite the difficult workouts, Maksim also allowed for other entertaining activities on the swim team. For example, at the end of the season, water balloon fights would take up entire practices. Biswal recalls being soaked in water after Maksim hit Biswal with a water balloon. Now, without Maksim, the swim team’s future is uncertain as they search for a new coach.
The impact Maksim had on Pinewood athletes was immense, but for Maksim, the impact Pinewood athletes had on her was just as big. For starters, the energy at the school during girl’s basketball games, spirit assemblies, and the Panther Bowl helped make some of Maksim’s favorite memories at the school. However, the main thing she remembers about Pinewood was the sense of community and warmth that she received from students.
“[Students] showed me that [kindness] still exists,” Maksim said. Maksim felt this kindness on her first day in 2013 and on her last day this year. It’s like that old saying— “Kindness is a two way street.” And it is that kindness from Maksim that impacted hundreds of athletes at Pinewood.