Grand Rapids, Mich. — Every practice. Every game. Every championship moment.

Behind every Aquinas student-athlete competing at their highest level is a group of professionals whose work often happens quietly, long before the opening whistle and long after the final score is posted.

March is National Athletic Training Month, a time set aside across the country to recognize the dedicated professionals who keep athletes healthy, safe, and performing at their best. At Aquinas College, it's also an opportunity to celebrate a department with a long tradition of excellence in athletic training and sports medicine.

Today, the Aquinas Sports Medicine Department carries the responsibility of caring for 28 varsity teams, six reserve programs, and nearly 700 student-athletes. It is a task that requires expertise, organization, and a tremendous commitment of time and energy.

And it is a job that rarely fits into a traditional workday.

A New Era of Sports Medicine at Aquinas

Over the past few years, Aquinas has restructured the way it supports the health and performance of its student-athletes. What was once primarily an athletic training department has evolved into a broader Sports Medicine Department, bringing together athletic training, strength and conditioning, and sports performance under one umbrella.

Leading that effort is Mackenzie Yob, Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Sports Medicine.

Yob comes from a physical therapy background, which allows Aquinas to offer a more comprehensive approach to injury care and recovery.

"My background in physical therapy helps us create a continuum of care within our own Sports Medicine department at Aquinas," Yob explained. "Our athletic trainers handle the initial evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation for most injuries. If an athlete isn't progressing the way we expect, instead of immediately sending them somewhere else, they can come to me for additional testing, movement assessment, and more advanced rehabilitation."

That structure allows the Saints to keep most of the injury care in-house, improving communication and consistency for athletes throughout the recovery process.

"It means athletes continue working with the same team that already understands their injury, their sport, and their goals," Yob said.

The Athletic Trainers on the Front Line

While the Sports Medicine Department continues to evolve, the heart of the operation remains the athletic trainers who work directly with the teams.

At Aquinas, that group includes Head Athletic Trainer Matt McWilliams along with Assistant Athletic Trainers Olivia Capuano and McKennah Hopkins.

Together, they manage daily injury evaluations, treatments, rehabilitation programs, practice coverage, and game-day medical care for Saints teams competing across the NAIA landscape.

For McWilliams, the path into athletic training came from a simple realization.

"I came to the conclusion that I may not be able to compete in athletics," McWilliams said. "Athletic training was a way for me to still be helping people who are."

Over the years, McWilliams has seen the profession evolve dramatically.

"It has changed night and day — more than I ever could have imagined," he said.

Despite those changes, some challenges remain constant.

"The most challenging part for me is flexibility," McWilliams explained. "Schedules change, situations change, and there are always different opinions. Nothing is ever set in stone."

A Demanding — and Rewarding — Profession

For the athletic trainers working with Aquinas teams, the job is anything but routine.

Long days, late nights, weekend travel, and constant communication with athletes, coaches, and medical providers are part of the profession.

"The most challenging part is the long days and nights," Capuano said. "At the collegiate level you're often going six or seven days a week. But when you truly love what you do, it's worth it."

Capuano's passion for athletic training began as a student-athlete who experienced injuries herself.

"My athletic trainers helped me get back from those injuries," she said. "I loved learning about how the body works and heals, and I wanted to help others the same way they helped me."

For Hopkins, sports have always been part of life. Athletic training became the perfect way to combine that passion with a career in medicine.

"I wanted to work in sports but also be in the medical field," Hopkins said. "Athletic training allowed me to combine both."

One of the most difficult parts of the job, she said, comes when trainers must make tough decisions for an athlete's long-term health.

"It's deciding whether to pull an athlete from competition," Hopkins explained. "You know how much it means to them to compete, but ultimately you have to do what's best for their health."

Yet those difficult decisions often lead to some of the most rewarding moments in the profession.

"The best part is seeing athletes return to play after an injury," Hopkins said. "Being there from the moment the injury happens through their recovery and watching them succeed again is incredibly rewarding."

The Work Athletes Don't Always See

To most fans, athletic trainers are visible during games when they sprint onto the field or court to check on an injured player.

But much of their work happens behind the scenes.

Athletic trainers spend countless hours designing rehabilitation programs, documenting treatments, monitoring weather conditions for safe play, coordinating with physicians, and communicating with coaches.

"Our day doesn't end when we leave the training room," Hopkins said. "We're constantly thinking about how to provide better care for our athletes."

McWilliams said one of the biggest misconceptions about athletic training is just how many hours the job requires.

"People don't realize how many hours we work," he said.

During busy seasons, those hours can easily stretch past 70 hours per week, with trainers essentially on call whenever an athlete needs help.

A Culture Built on Relationships

Despite the long hours, the Aquinas Sports Medicine staff prides itself on building strong relationships with the student-athletes they serve.

"That combination of expert medical care and genuine personal connection is what makes our team special," Yob said.

Capuano agrees.

"The AQ athletic training staff is truly the best," she said. "No matter the situation — good, bad, or ugly — we find a way to get through it together. We support each other and always find ways to keep the vibes up."

That sense of teamwork extends beyond the training room.

Aquinas Athletic Director Damon Bouwkamp said the department's dedication to student-athlete care is one of the program's greatest strengths.

"We're incredibly fortunate to have a sports medicine staff that cares so deeply about our student-athletes," Bouwkamp said. "They put in long hours, they sacrifice a lot of personal time, and they do it all because they genuinely care about the health and well-being of the Saints who represent Aquinas."

Coaches across the department echo that sentiment.

Swim and Dive Head Coach Kristy Hepp says the trust between coaches and trainers is invaluable.

"Our athletic trainers are an essential part of our program," Hepp said. "They help keep our athletes healthy and confident, and they provide incredible support throughout the entire season."

Men's Basketball Head Coach Ryan Bertoia agrees.

"They're there for our players every single day," Bertoia said. "Whether it's recovery, treatment, or just helping someone get through a tough injury, they make a huge difference in our ability to compete."

A Tradition of Caring for Saints

While the current Aquinas Sports Medicine staff continues to push the department forward, the program is built on the work of many outstanding athletic trainers who helped establish the culture of care that exists today.

Among those who helped shape the department are JoAnne Gorant, Kevin Parker, Kathryn Donnelly, and Mya Copado, all of whom served as full-time athletic trainers for the Saints.

Both Gorant and Parker also served as Head Athletic Trainers during their time at Aquinas, helping guide the department through earlier eras of Saints athletics while laying the foundation for the comprehensive care system that exists today.

Gorant remains a valued member of the Aquinas community as a faculty member and continues to support the department. When schedules stretch thin across Aquinas' many teams and events, she occasionally returns to the training room to lend her experience and assistance.

Donnelly and Copado likewise played important roles in the growth of Aquinas Athletics, helping shape the professional and compassionate culture that defines the Saints Sports Medicine program today.

Their work — along with the dedication of the current staff — reflects a shared commitment to caring for Aquinas student-athletes.

The Moments That Make It Worth It

For the Sports Medicine staff, the most rewarding moments often come quietly — far from the spotlight.

It might be a student-athlete completing their first practice after months of rehabilitation. Or the relief of seeing an athlete return to competition following a difficult injury.

Those moments remind the staff why they chose this profession.

"It's the reason behind everything we do," Yob said.

And while their work often happens behind the scenes, its impact is visible every time a Saint takes the field, court, or track ready to compete.

Because behind every Aquinas athlete chasing success is a team of professionals working tirelessly to help them get there.

And it's just one more reason why, at Aquinas College, every day is a great day to be a Saint.