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KINGSFORD -- Several of Kingsford's student athletes suffered concussions last year.  But trainers used science to evaluate head injuries in a new way.

All student athletes are required to take a baseline test before the season.  If they suffer another concussion, they must pass the test and be cleared by a physician before returning to action.

"We can see their marked improvement," said Kingsford Athletic Trainer Lane Linedman.  "It gives us a number and a standard to go off of as opposed to kind of treating these kids with a blanket approach.  It gives us a more specific angle to come at."

While the benefits can been seen on the field, Lindeman said they are being seen in other places as well.

"It makes a big difference clinically, but even moreso what we've seen in the first year is the fact that we're bringing this many kids in, and it really has helped to raise awareness," he said.  "The education aspect is the most important thing."

Testing also takes the pressure off the coaches from trying to diagnose a concussion on the fly.

Kingsford was one of the first schools in the U.P. to implement concussion testing, and Athletic Director Al Unger expects more schools this year will follow Kingsford's lead.

"With the attention that concussions are getting, we wanted to be proactive and be seen as 'hey, Kingsford is doing something,’" said Unger.  "Probably in the future, just about everybody will be doing testing like this."

Lindeman's hope is that these tests become more and more common for student athletes.