South Carolina AT’s Summer Takes Her From Pro Softball Championship to Team USA

South Carolina softball Athletic Trainer May Cordero Villamil traded a summer break for two opportunities that took her from professional softball to the international stage.

Soon after the Gamecocks’ season ended, Cordero Villamil joined the Utah Talons of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League as head Athletic Trainer. The opportunity reunited her with former Clemson softball Athletic Trainer Katie Rovtar, now the AUSL’s head Athletic Trainer.

“It can be who you know that helps open up these doors, but it is the work ethic and commitment that keeps those doors open,” Cordero Villamil said.

Her first season in professional softball ended with the Talons winning the league championship. Cordero Villamil said working with professional athletes offered a different perspective because veteran players often have established routines and a strong understanding of their bodies and treatment needs.

“The people are the most rewarding part of this whole thing,” she said.

Her summer wasn’t finished.

After returning home July 27, Cordero Villamil received a call from USA Softball asking how quickly she could get to Oklahoma City. Soon she was working as the Athletic Trainer for the U.S.A. Elite Softball team during the International Cup, where the team earned bronze.

The back-to-back experiences added another chapter to Cordero Villamil’s career as she prepares for her seventh year at South Carolina — and reinforced her desire to eventually work on an even bigger stage.

“My personal goal is to be in the Olympics,” she said.

For Cordero Villamil, the demanding summer was worth sacrificing her time off.

“It was the most exciting and rewarding thing I have ever done,” she said.

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