The devastation of Hurricane Helene had a significant impact on Freedom High School in Morganton, North Carolina. While all students and staff remained safe, the school’s athletic facilities suffered extensive damage, with many buildings being nearly a total loss.

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Allison Duckworth, the Athletic Trainer at Freedom, exemplified the resilience and dedication of athletic trainers by immediately stepping up to support her student-athletes and colleagues. Before Helene’s arrival, she took proactive measures to move equipment to higher ground, but the unprecedented flooding was beyond what anyone could have anticipated.

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In the aftermath, school and athletic events were put on hold as recovery efforts took priority. When students and staff were finally able to return, the damage was overwhelming. Fall outdoor sports had to be completed offsite due to the destruction of the facilities, creating a chaotic and physically and mentally exhausting experience for all involved.

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Tragically, Allison’s primary Athletic Training Facility in the Field House was destroyed, and an AED was swept away in the flooding. Thanks to a grant from the NCHSAA, she was able to replace the AED, but the majority of her supplies were lost. While she has secured a temporary space to continue providing exceptional care for her athletes, it is not well-suited for the demands of high-traffic outdoor sports.

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The NCATA’s Amazon Wishlist helped replace some expendable supplies, but many essential items—those not covered by insurance—are still needed. To bridge this gap, Allison has created her own Amazon Wishlist for the specific supplies required to continue supporting her athletes.

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Freedom High School Athletics remains hopeful that spring sports will be played on their home fields, but no timeline has been set for when the facilities will be fully restored or when Allison can return to her primary training space. In the meantime, she continues to do everything she can for her student-athletes and community.

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