After 35 years serving Hempfield Area School District, Athletic Trainer Lisa Brose officially retired on June 2. But there was one thing left to do before walking away from the profession she loves.
"I didn't want to leave this team on June 2 and go the state route without them," Brose said. "I asked them if I could finish."
Assigned to the softball program every season throughout her career, Brose has been part of 10 WPIAL championships and four state title teams. Along the way, she became much more than the team's Athletic Trainer—taping ankles, helping athletes prepare for competition, traveling on the team bus, providing treatments, and celebrating victories alongside players and coaches.
Athletic Director Brandon Rapp said Brose's dedication has been unmatched.
"She works late nights and early mornings and long practices and just shows up and never looks for any recognition—just does whatever it takes to support our students and our coaches and our programs," Rapp said. "To do that for the length of time that she did is pretty special."
The impact Brose made was equally meaningful to the athletes she cared for.
"She's been a constant source of support through recovery, even just talking to us through difficult times," catcher Ella Berkebile said. "She's always shown her support to the softball team. She's always there."
Reflecting on her career, Brose said helping injured athletes return to competition was always at the heart of her work.
"It's devastating to an athlete not to be able to finish their season or miss a few games," she said. "We try to work through it and just continue to be positive and have them work as hard as they can to get back on that field."
As she begins retirement, Brose looks forward to spending more time with family and traveling, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion, commitment, and decades of care for Hempfield student-athletes. Full story here!