Although the Hillsdale College Sports Medicine and Performance Department rarely gets in the spotlight, their work is as vital to the athletic department as anyone's.
Whether it's treating injuries ranging from mild to severe, supplying the tools necessary to help student-athletes recover from workouts and games and stay healthy, or designing nutrition and training plans to help every Charger reach their full potential, the Sports Medicine and Performance team is Hillsdale's secret weapon in the drive for championship-caliber performances in every sport.
And that role hasn't gone unrecognized or unnoticed by their peers. Today, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference announced that the Hillsdale College Sports Medicine and Performance Department was named the G-MAC Athletic Training Staff of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
Each conference member's athletic training staff voted on the award, and Hillsdale was chosen from among the 14 G-MAC member schools for the 2023-24 school year on the criteria of hospitality toward visitors, host preparedness with supplies, equipment and services for visitors, care for injured student-athletes from visiting teams and overall staff preparedness for emergency situations. This is the 11th year the conference has given out the award and the second time Hillsdale has won it since becoming a G-MAC member in the 2017-18 school year. The Chargers previously won the award in 2019-20.
"Everyone in the Hillsdale College Athletic Department is excited to see our staff win this award," Hillsdale College Director of Athletics John Tharp said. "It's a testament to the level of dedication and commitment this group shows in working with our student athletes on a daily basis, doing so much to help make them the best versions of themselves."
It's more recognition for a department that has long stood out among its peers in the athletic training world under the leadership of Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine and Performance Tyler Cortright. Cortright has pioneered an innovative approach for the department, assisted by a strong staff, that have helped the Chargers stay healthy on the field and compete at a high level.
Hillsdale gets high-quality work from Cortright, head trainer Dan Hudson, and veteran athletic trainers Lynne Neukom, Mikayla Kemp, Jordyn Dubina and Kelly Zdan, who oversee care for athletes in all 14 of Hillsdale's varsity sports.
Cortright and Hudson also work closely with Head Strength and Conditioning coach Mitchell Schoenborn to help keep all Chargers athletes in peak physical condition to excel in their respective sports as well.
"We all know they're the unsung heroes of the athletic department in many ways," Tharp said. "The impact of the care and the hours they spend serving our student-athletes has makes a huge difference in their lives and in the success of our teams, and I'm thrilled to see it get recognized in a way that gives this group the credit they deserve.
"It's our belief here at Hillsdale that we are blessed with one of the best training staffs in the country, and this honor confirms that."
