National Athletic Training Month: UT Athletic Trainers Help Keep Rockets in the Game
3/22/2013 4:54:00 PM | Sports Medicine
Athletic training is not just about healing a sprained ankle or containing the pain enough so an athlete can compete; it also pertains to the preventative measures taken to avoid major injuries so they do not occur in the first place.Â
March has been deemed National Athletic Training Month, and the University of Toledo Athletic Department would like to acknowledge and publically thank the outstanding, and often underappreciated, athletic training staff and highlight their hard work and efforts. Â
Under the leadership of Brian Jones, the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at UT, the Rocket athletic squads on campus have some of the best preventative and recuperative care. The highly trained and personable staff members go above and beyond to take care of the student-athletes to keep or get them back on the field of play.Â
Athletic trainers are not just "trainers;" they are educated professionals with a minimum of a bachelor's degree, have obtained ATC credentials, as well as state licensing, have knowledge about the latest trends and equipment accessible by staying current through continuing education courses and are members of a professionally recognized American Medical Association organization, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA).
Athletic Trainers work with coaches and their teams to personalize preventative and post-injury care specific for the needs of the student-athletes and their sport. In conjunction with NATA, the UT Athletic Sports Medicine staff is promoting this month's theme, "Every Body needs an athletic trainer." The goal is to raise awareness about the value of athletic training not just for active student-athletes but for everyone. Part of that goal is to encourage a change in legislation and public health and expand opportunities within the field. Another goal is to get every athlete to personally know his or her athletic trainer not just after an injury but before an injury even occurs.Â
"National Athletic Training Month gives me an opportunity to thank my staff for all their hard work to protect the health and safety of our Rocket student-athletes," said Jones. "I feel very privileged to supervise a fantastic group of young, energetic athletic trainers who work very hard behind the scenes.  They truly are 'the team behind your team.'"
Jones and his staff are dedicated to their profession and work long hours helping the Rockets stay in the game. The staff includes: associate head athletic trainer Gretchen Buskirk; associate athletic trainer John Walters and assistant athletic trainer Kelly Stobba. The staff also includes athletic trainer intern Robyn Hafner, as well as graduate assistant athletic trainers Mike Alfonsi, Samantha Bowker, Mike Mayes, Sam McMullen, William Saul and Lauren Welsch. The staff also has a physical therapist, Jennifer Miller, and an administrative assistant, Michelle Harris, to keeps things running as smoothly and as efficiently as possible.Â
For more information on the world of athletic training or to learn about NATA visit their site at NATA.org.Â
