(Photo Provided) Drake Jenkins, as a Warren High School Athlete of the Week.

Experience with injuries in sports has led Drake Jenkins of Warren to a career path helping others who are injured.

Jenkins, a junior at Warren High School and the Washington County Career Center, is enrolled in the sports medicine and exercise science program and is planning a career as a physical therapist.

“I started playing soccer at 8, maybe 9 or 10. I played soccer up to high school when an injury took me out of it,” he said. “Around eighth grade I had the opportunity to be a referee.”

Jenkins said to be certified as a referee he had to take 10-12 hours of classes and there is a one hour course every year to renew the certification.

Jenkins said because of his age he is only allowed to referee certain games.

(Photo Provided) Drake Jenkins recovers after a recent shoulder surgery.

“I can officiate games anywhere from 8-years-old up to 15,” he said. “That is like eighth grade to freshman, I can’t officiate high school games until I’m 18.”

Jenkins said he is not sure if he will continue to officiate games after graduation. He has officiated for the Ohio Valley Soccer League since the spring of his freshman year.

In addition to soccer, Jenkins also wrestled. However, he also sustained some injuries in the sport. His therapy and recovery from surgeries sidelined soccer. He began wrestling at age 6 under head coaches Ryan Strahler and Jeff Parsons.

Due to a weakness in his shoulders, he has had multiple injuries and surgeries all three years of high school.

“I’ve had a couple of surgeries,” he said. “In my freshman year I broke my collarbone in four places and I had a plate and screws put in. As a sophomore I injured my shoulder and three rods were put in my shoulder.”

(Photo Provided) Drake Jenkins, right, with his twin brother Max Jenkins, who is also on the wrestling team at Warren High School and a student at the Washington County Career Center.

Last year he had a tear in the same shoulder. He said that injury ended his season and wrestling over all.

“I haven’t had surgery for that yet. I haven’t decided if I want to do that or not,” he said. “I will not be wrestling this year.”

Jenkins said he plans to go to work in the physical therapy field after school, he has completed all but one of his requirements for high school and is full time at the career center.

Jenkins said he grew up knowing what programs the center offers since his mother Penny Jenkins is the marketing and events coordinator at the center.

His decision to study sports medicine and exercise science comes from his interest in sports.

(Photo Provided) Drake Jenkins (top) and Warren High School wrestling teammate Ethan Lorentz.

“I’m really into sports, I have been all my life,” he said. “Our instructor’s son has been drafted into MLB and can help me get to where I want to be.

“I wanted to go into the medical field but I don’t want to work in a hospital.”

Jenkins said he would like to work in a physical therapy clinic.

“Age group doesn’t matter, I don’t have a specific age group I would like to work with,” he said.

Jenkins said despite the name of the program what they learn is not restricted to sports-related issues.

(Photo Provided) Drake Jenkins, right, confers with Warren Wrestling Coach Ryan Strahler during a meet.

“We learn about different things, there are a lot of medical things as well,” he said, “We will cover physical therapy, athletic training, nutrition and more.

“That is what I’m aiming for,” he said. “I am planning on going to college but I haven’t decided where to go. I have looked at OU (Ohio University) and I’m planning to look at Cleveland State or maybe a local school like Marietta College.”

As for high school Jenkins said he needs one credit for English.

“All my classes at the career center will be college level,” he said. “I could just take that and graduate but I’d like to get some of these college classes out of the way.”

He said the credits will be from Washington State College of Ohio and he will either be a second semester freshman or first semester sophomore. He will have about 60 hours of credit from the academic and technical courses.

(Photo Provided) Watching the action to make sure the rules are followed is Drake Jenkins at a soccer match.

This summer Drake will be doing an unpaid shadowing/interning with Mountain River Physical Therapy, in Barlow, under the tutelage of PT Aaron Coffman. In January he may be able to obtain a paid internship there through the Career Center’s Early Placement program.

(Photo Provided) Members of the Warren High School wrestling team after a recent invitational.

(Photo Provided) Drake Jenkins is a Student Ambassador for the Washington County Career Center. He is the second from the left in the top row.