Meet Jeff Hale, MS, LAT, ATC
If you could swap athletic abilities with any pro athlete for a day, who would you choose?
Lebron James. At 40 years old, he is still able to perform at his peak and has been doing it now for over 20 years.
What’s the best compliment an athlete or parent has ever given you?
Just hearing them say thank you. We work with a lot of small schools that without would not have any coverage during their sports seasons. It means a lot to me to be able to serve the small communities where I grew up and to be able to help guide athletes through the injury process.
What’s a childhood snack you still secretly love?
Fruit Snacks or String Cheese. I have one of these every day in my lunch.
What’s your personal strategy for filling out a March Madness bracket—stats, gut feeling, or mascot battles?
I like to think that I know a lot about sports, especially college basketball, so I typically base it off watching games throughout the year and looking at some stats. Of course, every year, I am humbled after the first weekend when I have to look at my bracket and how many games I have missed.
Meet Jessica Schmitz, MS, LAT, ATC
What’s the best compliment an athlete or parent has ever given you?
That I was 90% of their child’s success in winning.
What’s a childhood snack you still secretly love?
A childhood snack that I secretly love is a peanut butter sandwich.
Who’s your all-time favorite Kansas City Chiefs player and why?
My favorite Chiefs player is Eric Berry, because I worked at a camp with him.
Meet Joe Walter, MEd, LAT, ATC
If you could swap athletic abilities with any pro athlete for a day, who would you choose?
Lamar Jackson is a freakish athlete that I have and will never get a chance to understand just what it’s like to be that fast and that shifty. I can’t hold a candle to any pro athlete, but his ability would be the far opposite of any I have ever possessed.
What’s one injury or issue athletes tend to ignore that they absolutely shouldn’t?
The one injury that still tends to be minimized or ignored is concussions and head/ brain injuries. You only get one brain, and we must take good care of it. I tell athletes, I will support them playing though pain and certain injuries, but I will never support risking your life and brain function for a sport.
What’s your personal strategy for filling out a March Madness bracket—stats, gut feeling, or mascot battles?
My gut rules that process and I am 0-everything.
Meet Camarie Weeks, LAT, ATC
If you could instantly master any extreme sport, which one would it be and why?
Whitewater rafting – I’ve been with my family several times and there are incredible views, and the rush of the rapids is exciting. It’s always a bonding experience to navigate the rapids, especially if you get stuck or lose a man overboard.
What’s one injury or issue athletes tend to ignore that they absolutely shouldn’t?
Shin splints – athletes tend to play through the pain which makes it worse and leads to a longer, slower recovery in the end.
What’s a childhood snack you still secretly love?
Frosted Circus Animal Cookies
Meet Tiffany Webb, MS, LAT, ATC
What’s one injury or issue athletes tend to ignore that they absolutely shouldn’t?
Ankle sprains and concussions.
With ankle sprains, most think that they can just tough it out but in reality, they should not. This can cause longer recovery times.
With concussions, I sometimes get push back when I tell athletes they have a concussion. Most of the time they do not think that concussions are serious, and the concussion might not be serious at the time – but it could lead to more serious issues in the future.
What’s the best compliment an athlete or parent has ever given you?
When I worked in the college setting, I had a soccer player that tore her ACL during the season. I worked with her from the day after her surgery until the following season to get her leg strong enough to return to full activity. In her first game back, she scored a goal and ran over and gave me a hug and thanked me for getting her to this point.
What’s your personal strategy for filling out a March Madness bracket—stats, gut feeling, or mascot battles?
I have zero strategy when filling out my bracket. Sometimes I pick based on the seed, who I think might be an upset (because there is always one), and flipping a coin. I always seem to do ok with this. I won the office bracket challenge last year with it.
Meet Tara Sanchez, MS, LAT, ATC
If you could instantly master any extreme sport, which one would it be and why?
Skijoring, being able to ski while being pulled by a horse at top speed would be such a thrill.
What’s one injury or issue athletes tend to ignore that they absolutely shouldn’t?
Foot pain, foot health is so important and can become serious and debilitating if not addressed early and consistently.
What’s the best compliment an athlete or parent has ever given you?
Having a parent reach out and being thankful for supporting their child through an injury or hard transition in their life.
Meet Jennifer Brockhoff, MBA, LAT, ATC, PTA
If you could swap athletic abilities with any pro athlete for a day, who would you choose?
Caitlin Clark
What’s one injury or issue athletes tend to ignore that they absolutely shouldn’t?
The importance of daily warming up and stretching properly daily, and prior to practice or competitions.
What’s your personal strategy for filling out a March Madness bracket—stats, gut feeling, or mascot battles?
Stats and then gut feeling from watching teams all year long.
Meet Cara Jay, MSAT, LAT, ATC
What’s one injury or issue athletes tend to ignore that they absolutely shouldn’t?
Ankle and Knee instability. Get in some rehab time and strengthen those joints before you go participate in sports and put a bunch of stress on them!
What’s the best compliment an athlete or parent has ever given you?
That’s she’s glad there’s someone there looking out for her “baby” as well as she would when she’s not able to be there. And that I made a scary and otherwise confusing situation less scary and less confusing regarding the next steps getting the proper care for their child.
What’s a childhood snack you still secretly love?
Capri Sun and Lunchables!
What’s your personal strategy for filling out a March Madness bracket—stats, gut feeling, or mascot battles?
I go by who has the best record and who’s team colors or mascot I like more.
Meet Allyson Matthews, MAT, LAT, ATC
If you could instantly master any extreme sport, which one would it be and why?
Bunge Jumping.
What’s one injury or issue athletes tend to ignore that they absolutely shouldn’t?
Ankle Sprains
What’s the best compliment an athlete or parent has ever given you?
I’m so glad you were here. Thank you.
Meet Dustan Barnett, LAT, ATC
What’s your signature catchphrase or the piece of advice you give most often?
Have you been keeping up with your stretches?
What’s one injury or issue athletes tend to ignore that they absolutely shouldn’t?
Knee pain
Who’s your all-time favorite Kansas City Chiefs player and why?
Priest Holmes, he was an amazing running back and I have his signed cleats from the season he ran over 1,000 yards.
Meet Brandon Doerksen, LAT, ATC
If you could instantly master any extreme sport, which one would it be and why?
I would like to master wingsuit flying. It would be incredible to soar through the sky like an eagle and be confident knowing you aren’t falling to your end.
Who’s your all-time favorite Kansas City Chiefs player and why?
Favorite all time athlete is Travis Kelce. It has been incredible to watch him become one of, if not the best, tight end to play the game.
What’s your personal strategy for filling out a March Madness bracket—stats, gut feeling, or mascot battles?
I have never taken March Madness very seriously. I prefer to flip a coin and let the odds pick. I haven’t been too successful with that yet.
Meet Kelsey Lerner, LAT, ATC
