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The Empire 8 Conference, Nazareth University, and Sports Medicine Concepts (SMC) teamed up to host the 2025 Empire 8 Emergency Preparedness and Fundamentals Workshop on August 5 at the Golisano Training Center.
The full-day training brought together 44 athletic trainers from all 12 Empire 8 institutions for SMC’s Core4® program—an elite emergency response course also used by NFL, NBA, and WNBA sports medicine professionals.
“We are very enthusiastic to host this program in support of our sports medicine professionals and the safety of our student-athletes,” said Empire 8 Executive Director Chuck Mitrano. “It’s vital that our teams can trust the preparedness of every institution’s staff.”
Attendees practiced CPR, AED use, equipment removal, and emergency simulations on both turf and ice, honing their response strategies in real-world settings.
“This training is a great program,” said Elmira College Head Athletic Trainer Dave Tomkalski. “We work as a team to ensure we’re ready for emergencies—whether at our own school or another E8 institution.”
This was the second such workshop for the conference, made possible by support from the NCAA Division III Grant Program. Jeff Bray of SMC noted,
“The Empire 8 is the only conference where all athletic trainers participate—this sets them apart.”
For Alfred University’s Lyndsey McCoy, the training proved life-saving. Just weeks earlier, she performed CPR and used an AED on a collapsed umpire during a Hornell Steamers baseball game.
“Thanks to my training, I was able to stay one step ahead of the worst-case scenario,” she said.
“It is imperative for our institutions,” Mitrano emphasized. “This is an event we will continue to build upon.”
The workshop represents Empire 8’s continued commitment to athlete safety, collaboration, and professional development. Full story here!
