Tracey Rarich. (Courtesy of Pope John Paul II High School)

With a new academic year set to begin, a Catholic high school in Montgomery County is welcoming a new athletic director.

Tracey Rarich will head up athletics at Pope John Paul II (PJPII) High School in Royersford. Her appointment takes effect immediately as her predecessor, Joe Trainer, begins a new position as a school counselor at La Salle College High School.

Rarich is already well warmed up for her new assignment, having served as PJPII’s assistant athletic director and head athletic trainer for the past seven years.

In those roles, she oversaw 400 student athletes while helping to craft policies regarding concussion prevention and care, COVID protocols and heat acclimation. Rarich was also instrumental in developing an athletic emergency action plan.

Along with those responsibilities, she has managed communications with game officials and assignors, coordinated non-league game scheduling and supervised equipment and uniform purchases, while also posting updates to the school’s social media accounts.

Rarich — who earned a Bachelor’s degree in athletic training from West Chester Universty and a Master’s in sports management from California University of Pennsylvania – said she’s “thrilled” to start her new position.

“I look forward to providing leadership to an athletic department that features the finest coaches, faculty, staff, students and families,” she said.