UTICA, NY - National Athletic Training Month pushes on this week as athletic departments around the country continue to honor their sports medicine professionals. At Utica, Pioneer athletics is proud to highlight another one of our spectacular sports medicine staff. This week's Behind the Benches spotlight is on four-year Pioneer Joann Zazula!
 
Join us as we step behind the benches to learn more about Joann and all her experiences as a part of the Utica sports medicine department!
 
Joann Zazula Q & A:
 
Years as a Pioneer: 4
 
Years in sports medicine: 7
 
Alma mater(s): East Stroudsburg University (bachelor's and master's degrees)
 
Did you play sports during high school or college?: Yes, I was a swimmer!
 
What is your favorite tape job and/or tape to use?: A good ankle tape is always satisfying!
 
What is your go-to fact when you need an icebreaker?: I know how to roll a white-water kayak. During past summers, I also used to teach kids how to do that, along with navigating a small capsized boat (kayak, canoe, sail boat) as a survival school!
 
What would you like Utica and the greater athletics community to know about your profession?: We have such a wide array of knowledge and continue to learn more and more every day. I like to think of this job as a combination of an orthopedic, PT, and an EMT. We aren't just the ankle tapers and ice wrappers. There's so much more to know about sports medicine!
 
Joann can be found at a variety of Utica athletics facilities, serving as the main athletic trainer for the men's soccer, women's hockey, and softball teams here at the university.
 
For more information about the National Athletic Trainers' Association and National Athletic Training Month, please visit nata.org.