Posted on

Southern Utah Grad Reflects on World Series Win

This year, for the first time in 30 years, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series — on Nov. 1 the team completed an extra-inning comeback in Game 5 against the New York Mets.

In the middle of the celebration at Citi Field stood a very proud Southern Utah University alumnus, Kyle Turner.

“I was ecstatic to make it to the majors,” Turner said. “It was a lifelong dream and to finally get there and achieve a goal that you set out forever, it’s amazing. You watch the World Series on TV growing up and to actually get there was incredible.”

Turner played four years of Division I baseball for the Thunderbirds.

He graduated in 1998, and is now entering his fourth season as assistant athletic trainer for the Royals.

The path to the World Series had many stops with training stints at Northern Oklahoma College, seven seasons with the Texas Rangers working in different capacities and two seasons with the Royals as the club’s minor league medical coordinator.

Turner credits his time at SUU as a “building block,” and the education he received laid the foundation for his career.

“Anyone who works in the athletic training profession must possess a good work ethic because of the demands of the job,” said Ricky Mendini, associate athletic director at SUU. “Kyle has always exemplified that quality. He is an outstanding individual who has been a credit to the university and to the athletic training profession.”

Mendini said with the price of fame comes much time and effort and there are not a lot of people who can put that time in to move up to the next level.

“It takes a lot of perseverance and dedication to one area to break the barrier into the major leagues,” Mendini said. “Most people don’t hear about the long hours, the bus rides, or the time on the road away from family. I am proud of Kyle, as I am of all my former students who work in the profession of athletic training.”

In his current role with the Royals, Turner’s responsibilities are endless but his overall objective is the day-to-day maintenance and care of the players, sometimes to the point he is unable to even watch the games.

“The most rewarding part about my job is helping a player that has been hurt and then working with him to get him back out there competing at high level,” Turner said. “Knowing you played a key part in that is almost as rewarding as winning the World Series.”

Turner’s mother-in-law, Gabrielle Strand, AmeriCorps program specialist at SUU, credits Turner’s success to his personality.

“He is very personable and well-liked by the players,” she said. “He is patient, hardworking and knowledgeable.”

Follow Haven Scott, @HavenWScott. Call him at 435-865-4522.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/cedar-city/2015/11/28/suu-world-series/76509512/

Posted on

Athletic trainer reunited with stolen world series ring

Sheriff detectives have recovered some priceless baseball memorabilia for a former Royals athletic trainer.

The Jackson County Sheriff says detectives have recovered a 1985 World Series ring and baseball signed by the 1980 Royals. Both were stolen Tuesday during a home burglary.

The sheriff says the baseball memorabilia taken from Mickey Cobb has been recovered. And detectives have a person of interest in custody.

FOX 4 News first reported the home burglary in rural Lee’s Summit last night on Wednesday. Mickey Cobb spent 20-years working as an athletic trainer for the Kansas City Royals. On the eve of another playoff appearance he says he never thought he’d see his ring again, not to mention a baseball signed by the 1980 Royals, who also played in a World Series.

“I did not think I’d ever see my World Series ring again,” Cobb said after learning of the recovery. “I had begun to think in terms of how might I possibly get another. I know in the past some people have made some sort of attempt or application to get and replace a ring so I was really in that mode this morning.”

Cobb had nothing but praise for the sheriff’s department, who had a team of investigators working the case. Not everything stolen has been recovered, but the personal items Cobb  considers priceless he says will be back in his possession in a couple of days.

A suspect has not yet been charged in this case. And commanders say the investigation is continuing. Cobb says there have been a series of break-ins recently in his neighborhood.

 ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://fox4kc.com/2015/10/08/former-royals-athletic-trainer-to-be-reunited-with-world-series-ring-and-other-memorabilia-stolen-from-home-during-burglary/
Posted on

Student grips pro baseball internship like a fastball

After growing up in a country where baseball is a national passion, a University of Central Missouri student got an inside-look at what it takes to keep professional players in top condition while preparing for his own professional career.

Hoping to someday work in the Major Leagues, Takao Iwano, an athletic training major from Abiko, Chiba, Japan, was one of only seven individuals selected to participate in an internship program sponsored by the Japan Baseball Athletic Trainers Society in cooperation with the American Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.

The experience took him to Arizona in early March, where he spent a week with the Kansas City Royals at their training facility in Surprise, and the Seattle Mariners in Peoria.

Iwano said the internship gave him an opportunity to see players that he watched on televised baseball in Japan and America. He was particularly excited about the opportunity to work with the Royals, which won the American League Pennant in 2014. He was in the dugout during games, and was “fist-bumped” by Major League players.

More than just a fun experience for a longtime baseball fan, this opportunity entailed long hours and lots of work. Iwano said he would be on the job by 5:15 a.m., performing tasks such as setting up the hydrotherapy station, and getting ice and towels ready for the players. He participated in pre-game, pre-practice, and field setups, in addition to working with professional Athletic Trainers to observe pre-game, pre- and post-practice treatments. Iwano interacted frequently with the certified training staff.

Brian Hughes, professor and athletic training program director, applauded Iwano for seeking out the opportunity with JBATS. Although students are required to participate in for-credit athletic training internships which are imbedded in the curriculum throughout each semester of their four-year program at UCM, he said Iwano’s experience was on his own, and for no academic credit.

Iwano paid his own expenses, including air fare and hotel costs. Hughes insisted, however, the investment and time were well spent for Iwano.

Iwano said this will not be the last time he applies for a baseball internship as he is looking to land another opportunity through PBATS next year.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.dailystarjournal.com/people/community/article_12bceda8-0e7a-5f45-9d16-f96101de1224.html