March is often shadowed with being the start of spring and often holds other holidays such as Mardi Gras, Easter and St. Patrick’s Day, but for athletic trainers and students it holds another meaning.March is Athletic Training Month, but to those not participating in sports or in the program itself, athletic training may be a foreign subject.

The athletic training staff is there for athletes when an injury occurs, after an injury to help with rehabilitation and before, helping to prevent an injury.

The athletic training team has helped athletes recover from injuries and helped them get back on the field as soon as possible to be able to participate in the sports they love.

A few athletes and coaches took time out of their day to say what the athletic training staff has done for them through their injuries.

Molly Mersereau, sophomore goalie for the soccer team, said, “I went from not being able to move my arm and it being stuck to my stomach to basically raising it over my head and almost having full motion on it. I’ve grown leaps and bounds since my surgery and through all of the hard times I have had. When I had trouble with medicine, they were there getting me new ones as quick as they could. All around I will be able and better to play in the fall.”

Ross Larson, senior pitcher for the baseball team, said, “I had my surgery in Chicago and when I came back, the training staff was more than willing to work with me and the surgeon in Chicago. I did most of my work off campus but they worked with the guy to help me get back into shape.”

Keith Kulbeth, junior second baseman for the baseball team, said, “The athletic training staff here at Nicholls is very well endowed. The training staff saw me through my injuries and told me the precautions I should take on the field. They do a good job, are very well organized and I have a lot of respect for them.”

J.P. Piper, head coach for the men’s basketball team, said, “The athletic trainers are truly the life blood of the program. It’s impossible to think we can get through the season without them. They are the auto mechanics of athletics. If our players are not healthy we cannot do what we do. I think the success of our season has to do with the fact that we have been able to stay healthy and that is directly attributed to the athletic training staff.”

Mike Czepil, junior guard for the basketball team, said, “I have a special relationship with the athletic training staff because of the amount of time I’ve spent with them the last few years. They spend long hours looking after us. We really do get the best treatment here and we are lucky to have such a great staff.”

David Cunningham, special teams coordinator for the football team, said, “There is nothing but positive things to say about our athletic training staff. They help get our athletes back on the field. As far as my injury, Jeff Smith immediately came and treated me as well as get me an appointment for the next morning. Anything that I needed to rehab and get me back in shape they have done.”

Vincent Montgomery, senior quarterback for the football team, said, “I broke my ankle and that was the first serious injury I have ever had and I contemplated coming back for my senior season. Talking to Jeff helped me and guided me through all of my rehab and helped me to come back for my senior season.