Trainers Win LSC Award

August 16, 2007

RICHARDSON, Texas --  Honors continue for the Southwestern Oklahoma State University athletic training staff as they, along with Abilene Christian University, were voted by their peers as the Lone Star Conference Athletic Training Staff(s)-of-the-Year. The award is the second in three years for the SWOSU program. By conference rule, no school can win the award in consecutive years.

      SWOSU was awarded the athletic training award for the LSC North Division, representing the six members from Oklahoma and another from Texas.  SWOSU’s athletic training staff is under the direction of Michael Catterson, with help from head trainer Jody Rickey, assistant trainer Kris Mahlock and clinical coordinator Jessica Young.

      Abilene Christian was presented the athletic training award for the LSC South Division, which consists of seven member institutions in Texas and one in New Mexico.  ACU’s program is led by J.D. Dunavant with help from associate athletic trainer Amber Scharf and full-time assistants Elizabeth Heyer and Billy Abbe.

      The LSC Athletic Training Staff of the Year awards is presented annually to the top institution in both the North and South Divisions as voted by the head athletic trainer of each member institution.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by our peers with this award,” Catterson said. “It goes to show how well our program is respected from our full time faculty and staff to our athletic training students.”

      The purpose of the award is to raise awareness of the athletic training profession. Criteria for the award include the athletic training staff’s hospitality toward visiting athletic trainers and teams; preparedness with supplies, equipment and services for visiting athletic trainers and teams; preparedness for emergency situations; and care for injured athletes from visiting teams.