LHU athletic training student completes externship at Albright College | News, Sports, Jobs

(Editor’s note: This is part of a series of stories written by graduate students at the University of Lock Haven about their full-immersion sports training camps this spring.)

LOCK HAVEN – Lock Haven University is a state university in Clinton County with a very strong athletic training program that extends far beyond its small roots in central Pennsylvania.

There are close ties between athletic trainers who studied at Lock Haven. There are a surprisingly large number of them in Pennsylvania, who most likely have heard of or worked with other Lock Haven ATs. A great example of the Lock Haven AT student bond is currently taking place at Albright College in Reading.

Bernard Smack, MS, LAT, ATC, PES, Class of 2016 and Vicki Leibel, MS, LAT, ATC, Class of 2017 are both good examples of the quality and standard that Lock Haven University expects from its graduate program. sports training. Both currently work for Albright College with Leibel from 2019 and Smack from 2021.

Zachary Echevarria, a recent graduate of Lock Haven’s athletic training program, completed his final immersion experience with Albright College this spring. His immersion led him to work primarily under Smack with men’s and women’s basketball teams, but also various other spring sports such as baseball, men’s lacrosse, track and field, and spring football.

“Being able to work with sports coaches who came from the same school as me and who are in positions that I hope to one day hold has been very helpful and inspiring to see”, said Echevarria.

Smack has completed various internships with top programs such as Florida International University, University of Miami, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles. Leibel has also worked with various local businesses such as Spooky Nook Sports and Manheim Township High School.

“Both Vicki and Smack are excellent athletic trainers and represent the very best of Lock Haven’s athletic training program,” said Echevarria. “I think they are great examples of the strong bond that binds Lock Haven sports training students together, and I am so grateful to them for being able to share their knowledge and experience with me.”

The University of Lock Haven is clearly doing something right with the positive benefit of former graduates inspiring and educating future graduates. The work provided by athletic trainers is indispensable to the athletes they work with and it is evident that Lock Haven strives to provide some of the best athletic trainers in Pennsylvania and beyond.