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Utica Athletic Trainers Keep Athletes Game-Ready

Article reposted from The Tangerine
Author: Christian Rodriguez

Utica College has 24 athletic programs and has hundreds of student athletes. With these athletes giving their all, there are times where injuries come into play. Some may be major and some may be minor, but our student athletes seem to be healthy most of the time. This is all thanks to the amazing work by the athletic training staff.

There are three hard working athletic trainers whose only desire when on campus is to keep our athletes healthy. Those great individuals are Assistant Athletic Trainers Kristen Garrity, Dawn Corbin and head trainer, Christopher Warner.

Garrity, a graduate of East Stroudsburg University, joined the UC staff in the fall of 2015 and is the primary trainer for the men’s lacrosse team. What made her become an athletic trainer was the fact that she was always around the trainers as a player herself.

“I was an athlete back in the day and I spent a lot of time in the athletic training room,” Garrity said.

Garrity also says that she loves the atmosphere of the training room. Her favorite part of the job is being able to work with the players from the beginning of the injury to the very end. Her favorite team to work with is the men’s lacrosse team because of the high intensity the sport has. Garrity also is a huge fan of lacrosse, being able to travel with the team, as their primary trainer is just a bonus.

Corbin has been around for several years and has loved every minute of it.

“I love the dynamic atmosphere in the training room and being able to work with athletes from start to finish,” Corbin said. “It’s better than sitting in an office, in my opinion.”

Corbin gets a real kick out of her job. One of her favorite aspects of her job is the relationships she has with her athletes and getting to know them. She also enjoys going to sporting events and watching the Pioneers in action.

Corbin doesn’t have a particular team that she likes to work with,

“I like working with most players,” Corbin said.

Despite not having a favorite team to work with, Corbin does enjoy football because of all the action going on in the game.

“I love football. The high intensity is exciting and there is a lot going on,” Corbin said.

Head Athletic Trainer, Christopher Warner, has been a part of the UC training staff for 10 years. He graduated with a degree in athletic training from Cortland State University in 2004.

His love for completion has led him to where he is today.

“My interest in the athletic training profession is derived from a love of competition and sport, and an interest in science/medicine,” Warner said.

Warner has a true passion for his job. He loves working with each team equally no matter the situation.

“I truly enjoy working with all of the teams here at UC.  Each sport/team presents unique problems to solve, and that keeps my day interesting,” Warner said. “Whether it’s a dislocated finger at hockey practice, or shin pain on the track team, there is always a unique situation arising that needs to be dealt with.”

The highlight of his job is being able to help student athletes set and achieve goals that help to get them back onto the playing surface.

“Seeing an athlete at the point of injury, where they are at their lowest, and then help in the process to build them back up and return them to play is an extremely gratifying and fulfilling experience,” Warner said.