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Eastern Illinois Graduate Assistants Provide Care at Illinois High Schools

Article reposted from Tribune Star
Author: Tribune Star

Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center has added a third athletic trainer at area Paris, Illinois, schools to help athletes prevent and recover from sports injuries.

PCH/FMC has provided funding for an athletic trainer at Paris Cooperative High School for the past several years. Additional funding was provided last year for an athletic trainer for Tri-County sports. The program was further expanded this year to include an athletic trainer for Chrisman schools/Martinsville football.

PCH/FMC is providing the trainers through a partnership agreement with Eastern Illinois University. Each trainer is a graduate student at EIU and is a certified athletic trainer in Illinois. Lisa Smittkamp, certified athletic trainer and rehab coordinator at PCH/FMC, manages the program.

“Given the huge success of the program, we are pleased to add a trainer for Chrisman schools this year,” said Oliver Smith, PCH/FMC president and CEO. “Athletic trainers are a valuable resource for our schools, and they are our way of encouraging safety among our young athletes.”

Ari Adrahtas is the athletic trainer for Paris Cooperative High School. He is from north suburban Lincolnwood, Ilinois. He attended Niles North High School, where he played football, volleyball and indoor/outdoor track. He completed his undergraduate degree at EIU and is pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration. He completed an internship at Notre Dame College Prep in Niles. His goal is to become an athletic trainer/teacher at a high school.

Alli Antkiewicz is the athletic trainer for Tri-County sports. She is from southwest suburban Tinley Park, Illinois. She attended Carl Sandburg High School, where she played lacrosse and was a cheerleader. She completed her undergraduate studies at EIU and is pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration. She completed an internship with Varsity Spirit, which sponsors nationwide cheer and dance competitions. Her goal is to become an athletic trainer at a high school.

Katie Neeley has become the first athletic trainer for Chrisman schools. She is from southwest suburban Bolingbrook, Illinois. She attended Bolingbrook High School, where she played soccer. She completed her undergraduate degree at Western Illinois University and is pursuing a master’s degree in kinesiology and sports studies, with an emphasis in exercise science. She is interested in becoming an athletic trainer at a middle school or high school, with a long-term goal of being a college professor teaching athletic training.

In addition to being the athletic trainer for Chrisman schools, Neeley also will be the athletic trainer for Martinsville football. This is the first year PCH/FMC has provided an athletic trainer for Martinsville.

Throughout the school year, the three athletic trainers will be familiar faces on the sidelines for their respective sports teams.