Denison University has announced the addition of Gracie Barney to its Athletic Training staff, where she will provide care and coverage for the Big Red football, softball, and squash teams.
Though her background is rooted in Division I football, Barney said she’s excited to branch out.
“I’ve grown up a huge football fan and have worked D1 football, so I’m excited to be working in a sport I love,” she said. “[Squash and softball] are new for me, so I’m also excited to learn about them.”
Barney approaches each sport with a unique perspective, recognizing how treatment and rehabilitation differ across contact and non-contact activities.
“Football is a collision sport compared to the other two,” she explained. “Contact sports might see more acute injuries, while non-contact sports might have more chronic ones. Either way, each injury is treated within my scope of practice, with rehab focused on the respective sport in mind.”
Her daily routine includes athlete treatments, rehab sessions, and injury evaluations, followed by coordination with coaches and strength staff.
“I give each patient a block of time for whatever their treatment needs to be,” Barney said. “Then I’m at practice for any medical need, emergent or non-emergent.”
Above all, Barney prioritizes the physical and mental well-being of her student-athletes.
“Taking care of your body also means taking care of your mind,” she said. “It’s hard being a student-athlete, so making sure that mental health is just as cared for as physical health is important.”
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