Wheaton's Wellness Warriors: The ATs Guiding Athlete Recovery

At Wheaton College, a student wrote up a great article about the Athletic Trainers in the school newspaper and we wanted to share the spotlight the author created. When you get a chance, check out their full article, with photos included: 

Athletic success stories often highlight the athletes and coaches, but behind the scenes, a dedicated team of five Athletic Trainers plays a crucial role in keeping the athletes fit and competitive.

This team, led by head AT Tricia Deter, and supported by full-time assistants Allan Prasil and Jonathan Gramme, along with part-time assistants Tonya Baker and Lance Mathieu, is vital in managing athletes' health and recovery.

These Athletic Trainers are tasked with a broad range of responsibilities, from immediate injury care to long-term rehabilitation. Their work is pivotal, particularly given the diverse needs of athletes across different sports.

Rehabilitation sessions can vary, lasting from fifteen minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the severity of the injury and the athlete’s progress, often leading to workweeks that extend up to 70 hours.

Despite the demanding nature of their jobs, these ATs develop profound connections with the athletes, sharing in the highs of victories and the lows of defeats. Ten-year veteran at Wheaton, Allan Prasil shared: 

"When we win, I feel like I’m winning. When we’re losing, I feel like I’m losing because we are family."

The emotional aspect of the job can be challenging, as Tricia Deter notes, particularly witnessing the mental and emotional toll injuries take on athletes.

“It’s challenging to watch people go through hard things and feeling those emotions with them because that weighs heavy on us too.”

The athletic training room at King Arena becomes a hub of activity where trainers not only administer physical treatments like stretches and strength training but also offer emotional support.

The Athletic Trainers' commitment extends beyond the training room. They accompany teams to all games, ready to provide immediate care and ensure athletes are game-ready. Their preventive work and readiness to handle emergencies underscore their integral role in the sports programs at Wheaton.

For many ATs, like Prasil, who entered the field after an injury, the profession is rewarding. Seeing athletes recover and return to play brings a sense of accomplishment.

“Our profession has grown a lot since I was in college to now, which is me being 50. I can look back at seeing these younger kids graduating and seeing what our, how big, our profession has grown, which is great.”

These Athletic Trainers at Wheaton are more than just healthcare providers; they are a vital part of the athletic community, deeply committed to the well-being and success of its athletes.

Read the full article here!