After working with Division I athletes at Texas A&M University, Athletic Trainer Hannah Songy is starting her professional career in a very different environment: a small high school in Western New York.
And she's embracing the opportunity.
Songy, who earned her master's degree in Athletic Training from Texas A&M in May, recently joined Royalton-Hartland High School as its full-time Athletic Trainer through UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
Her clinical experience includes working with Texas A&M's football, track and field, and Dance Science programs, along with local high school athletes.
Now, instead of concentrating on individual collegiate programs, she's providing care across nearly every sport at Roy-Hart, with the exception of football, which has separate Athletic Training coverage.
But Songy isn't waiting for injuries to happen before getting involved.
She's working with teams on strengthening exercises, helping athletes reduce injury risks, and checking in with coaches about concerns they may have.
Her biggest message to student-athletes?
“You don't have to play through the pain. I can help you.”
It's a philosophy that reflects her approach to Athletic Training, particularly the importance of prevention and early intervention.
“When we can prevent injuries and strengthen the muscles to make the injury easier to recover from, that is always the goal,” Songy said.
The move from a major university to a smaller high school also means taking on a broader role, something she welcomes.
“I can use the different skills I've learned in sports performance and physical therapy to teach athletes. It is all encompassing,” she explained.
Songy says the Roy-Hart community has been welcoming, even introducing her to a Western New York institution: Wegmans.
And while she's adjusting to life far from Texas, there's one question she's already had to answer repeatedly.
No, she's not a Dallas Cowboys fan.
Perhaps becoming a Buffalo Bills fan is next.