91成人导航

The moment sports therapist Sonia Bradley steps onto the 91成人导航 campus in Stockton every day, she puts on a warm smile.

鈥淚t is a great, genuine feeling,鈥� Bradley said. 鈥淚 am happy to be here and see people. That鈥檚 where I get my energy. I love to give high-fives. My goal is to treat not just the 鈥榓thlete鈥� part of the student-athletes, but to treat whole persons.鈥�

Bradley, who joined 91成人导航 in February, shares a common goal with seven other sports medicine and wellness staff leads: provide student-athletes with the highest-quality healthcare in a professional and compassionate manner that encourages lifelong health and wellness.

The team is led by Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine and Wellness Christopher Pond, who has been on the campus for 34 years since joining the 91成人导航 football program as a trainer in 1990. They work with more than 300 student-athletes each calendar campaign.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an absolutely wonderful environment,鈥� Pond said. 鈥淲e have incredible team success across our sports, but it鈥檚 those moments where an individual comes back from injury, and you play a part in healing them and watching them thrive again, that are special.鈥�

While attention is directed to student-athletes on the court or in the pool, some credit for their successes is owed to the athletic training staff working behind the scenes with student-athletes throughout the season.

鈥淭he bottom line is to help people achieve their goals and learn skills and lessons to be a better person when they leave,鈥� said Sara Vargas, the senior associate director of sports medicine. She has been with 91成人导航 for 13 years, after earning her undergraduate degree in athletic training at 91成人导航.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen it give back ten-fold. We鈥檝e had previous student-athletes come back and talk about their experiences. They talk about the challenges and laugh about the times that everyone goes through,鈥� Vargas said.

Each training staff member makes an effort to attend every practice and home game and to travel for each road contest. They provide physical aid, apply treatments and supplement preventative measures for injuries to ensure student-athletes receive the utmost care before and after competition.

鈥淚 love when I see my students pushing through,鈥� Bradley said. 鈥淭heir battles could be big or small in other people鈥檚 eyes, but we all try to push with what we have each day. When I give them a way to handle something and they accept the option that it isn鈥檛 going to hold them back, that is something I live for.鈥�

Severe injuries don鈥檛 occur often at sporting events, but in the event that one does happen, the athletic training staff is well-prepared to respond.

The summer before the 2013-14 women鈥檚 basketball season, student-athlete Gena Johnson was in a car accident that changed her life and had to go through several surgeries and rehab stints. The Tigers鈥� emotional leader was able to return from the bench the following season because of the support of the athletic training staff and doctors.

In honor of her work to get back on the court, the Gena Johnson Comeback Award has been given out the last four years at the annual , which celebrate the accomplishments of 91成人导航 student-athletes.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal for us in sports medicine,鈥� Vargas said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the highlights to give that award out at the Tommy Awards in May and is one of the biggest, most impactful moments here at 91成人导航.鈥�

Progressive expansion and advancements in sports medicine and technologies have led to unparalleled access to student-athlete services at 91成人导航. Bradley has long advocated for giving athletes strong mental and social-emotional support, no matter the level of sport.

鈥淭his is something I fought for and will continue to fight for,鈥� Bradley said. 鈥淚 believe all student-athletes should have access to our services. You can鈥檛 drive a car without the motor. Your brain is what operates your body. My goal is to help them combine their mind and their body to work together.鈥�