March is National Athletic Training Month. As the designated time of recognition for our ATs comes to a close, learn more about our on-campus superheroes and the world of athletic training.

SETH WOLLES - HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

How long have you been an AT? How long at Briar Cliff?
I have been an athletic trainer for 5 years, and all of them have been at BC.

Why are you an AT? What do you enjoy about your job? 
I always wanted to go into healthcare when I was selecting a career path. Athletic training ended up being a great fit for me because it allows me to be healthcare professional who treats athletes. I love working with the athletic population. I love how my job always keeps me on edge. I'm never doing the same thing two days in a row. There are so many things athletic trainers do that people don't think about. One day I may have to be the first responder to an emergency. The next day I may be focusing on rehab with an athlete who is trying to recover from surgery. The best part about Briar Cliff is that I'm able to interact with all of the athletes on campus. I have my sports that I concentrate on, but they are not the only ones I get to interact with. I've been able to develop relationships with athletes from all sports at BC.

What is a common misconception of the AT job that you wish more people understood?
When people hear the term athletic trainer they immediately think of a sports performance coach. We are very different from sports performance coaches. Athletic trainers focus on five domains: Injury and illness prevention, emergency care, evaluation of injuries, therapeutic modalities and rehabilitation, and healthcare administration.

Any fun AT-related facts about yourself?
I completed my undergraduate degree at Augustana University, in Sioux Falls. I was able to work with the men's basketball team who won an NCAA D2 National Championship.

How are you staying busy right now with no sports?
With no sports going on right now, I'm trying to find a balance between staying busy and trying to relax. Anyone who knows me knows I'm in to CrossFit, so I made a home gym in my garage. I'm doing some sort of learning every day to better myself in my profession.

#1 tip for people right now?
My number one tip for people right now is to keep doing everything the CDC tells us. If we all focus on the physical distancing (I don't like the term social distancing because humans are social beings), we will get through this. I'm hating it just as much as everyone else because I'm an extrovert. Keep doing things you love to do - exercise, go outside, read, write, reach out to others over phone or video chat. When we all get through this don't be afraid to come give ya boy a hug. Lol. We are always #bettertogether.

Coolest AT moment at Briar Cliff
My favorite athletic training moment so far at BC was during the football season in 2018 when the team won its 6th game to have the first winning season in school history. 
 
KELSIE COLFACK - ATHLETIC TRAINER
 
How long have you been an AT? How long at Briar Cliff?
I have been an athletic trainer for 3 years, and I have been at Briar Cliff for 8 months.
 
Why are you an AT? What do you enjoy about your job?
I struggled with injuries throughout my entire career as a competitive gymnast. With those injuries I spent a lot of time with sports medicine physicians and physical therapists. It was through my experiences with them that sparked my interest in the field of sports medicine. Now that I'm an athletic trainer, I love watching the athletes that I work with progress through rehab plans and return to the sport that they love, following an injury. That's why I do what I do. The community at Briar Cliff is amazing, and I love that I get to work with so many different teams throughout the year. There is never a dull moment in the athletic training room at Briar Cliff! 
 
What is a common misconception of the AT job that you wish more people understood?
People often mix up athletic trainers with personal trainers. Although the job names are similar, the careers are very different from one another. An athletic trainer is a certified and licensed health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. We specialize in the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions.
 
Any fun AT-related facts about yourself?
I was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at the University of South Dakota prior to coming to Briar Cliff. During my time at USD I worked with the women's soccer and football programs. 
 
How are you staying busy right now with no sports?
I am using this extra down time to complete some continuing education and create new rehab plans for common injuries that I see in college athletics. Athletes are still able to contact me too during this time and ask me about their injuries and personalized rehab plans.
 
#1 tip for people right now?
PLEASE STAY HOME! But also wash your hands, drink lots of water, get 7-8 hours of sleep, eat healthy food, and get some exercise! (But I encourage these things with or without a pandemic.)
 
Coolest AT moment at Briar Cliff
I don't have one specific moment that sticks out from this year. But every day at Briar Cliff provides me with the opportunity to help athletes get back to playing the sports that they love. And to me, that's pretty cool. 
 
 
KRISTY SANDMAN - ASSISTANT AD / ATHLETIC TRAINER
 
How long have you been an AT? How long at Briar Cliff? 
I've been an athletic trainer for 18 years, 14 years at Briar Cliff.
 
Why are you an AT? What do you enjoy about your job? 
I love how Athletic Training is a mixture of both sports and medicine. Two things I have always enjoyed. My favorite part of the job is being able to see athletes succeed after they have gone through a serious injury and have worked hard to get back to competing at high level. I enjoy working at Briar Cliff because it is a family atmosphere and I've always been able to work with multiple sports.
 
What is a common misconception of the AT job that you wish more people understood? 
We do a lot more than tape ankles and put out water coolers. athletic trainers are health care providers that are trained in emergency care, injury prevention, the evaluation of injuries, and the treatment and rehabilitation of injuries.
 
Any fun AT-related facts about yourself?
I actually received my athletic training degree from Briar Cliff. I started school as a biology major but switched to athletic training after I tore both of my ACLs 7 months apart while I was a member of the soccer team. 
 
How are you staying busy right now with no sports? My administrative duties keep me plenty busy!
 
#1 tip for people right now?
Staying home doesn't just protect you, it protects the community. And you can still find plenty of ways to be active while you are at home.
 
Coolest AT moment at Briar Cliff?
I'll never forget successfully relocating my first dislocated joint. Going to Notre Dame with the men's basketball team is up there as a cool moment. And seeing teams win championships is always a rewarding experience.