Athletic Trainer’s Expertise Helps South Dakota Sprinter Turn Injury Into Triumph

When Deuel High School multi-sport athlete Oliver Fieber tore his meniscus during the spring of 2024, he never imagined his comeback would place him among the fastest sprinters in South Dakota history.

But behind his return to elite performance was a coordinated rehab team — including Sanford Certified Athletic Trainer Kyle Johnson, whose expertise, encouragement, and advanced treatment strategies helped transform a season-ending injury into a record-setting return.

Johnson worked alongside physical therapists Luke Johnson and Karen Sievers to support Oliver through a progressive and highly individualized program. Throughout rehab, Oliver admired the way the team adapted when things became difficult.

“No matter when I was down, they’d try to just keep me up,” he said. “They would just keep me working at all times. If I couldn’t do something, they’d make it a little easier and make me feel more comfortable.”

Johnson saw Oliver’s character long before he saw his times become historic.

“He’s just a humble, hardworking, kind kid,” he said. “If you talked to him, you wouldn’t know that he was the state 100-meter, 200-meter and relay champ. He’s just one of those kids that you cheer for. He was very inquisitive, always engaged and willing to give 110% all the time.”

Among the advanced tools used during rehab was blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy, a highly effective, research-supported modality typically associated with major sports performance centers. Johnson takes pride in being able to offer it locally, noted:

"I feel like sometimes people are surprised that in Clear Lake that we are able to offer a treatment like that. I feel pretty fortunate that we can offer that here.”

Oliver entered the 2025 track season fully healthy, ran 10.48 seconds in the 100-meter dash — at the time the second-fastest mark in state history — and swept three Class A state titles.

Reflecting on his journey, he remains grateful:

“They’re the reason this happened… It was a lot of PT but it was worth it and I’m glad I got to do it with those people.”

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