CU-LOCK HAVEN ATHLETIC TRAINING STUDENT COMPLETES EXTERNSHIP WITH FLEETWOOD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

In the final semester of the Master of Science in Athletic Training program at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, each student completes a full-immersion externship experience at a location of their choice. Aryella Hoover, of Reading, chose to return to her hometown and complete her externship at Fleetwood Area School District (FASD). Hoover worked under the supervision of Heather Wood MS, LAT, ATC, EMT, ITAT and Christian Klucsarits MS, LAT, ATC, ITAT.

Hoover chose her profession in athletic training when she fell in love with it in high school, spending all four years interning with Wilson High School's athletic trainers John "Doc" Moyer former LAT, ATC and Kiernan Melograna LAT, ATC.

"Ever since I started helping around the athletic training room, I couldn't stay away," Hoover said. "Athletic training became a part of my everyday life, and I couldn't see a future without it. I was influenced by the amazing athletic trainers at Wilson High School where my devotion began."

Hoover chose FASD as her immersive site due to her previous relationship working alongside Heather Wood while Wood was completing two clinical rotations at Wilson during her time as a student intern from Alvernia University. The early influence from Wood is a main factor that caused Hoover to dive deeper into the profession.

The first half of the spring 2024 semester was spent at FSAD working primarily with the high school and middle school boys' and girls' basketball teams, and the indoor track and field team. Hoover spent the second half of the semester working with the high school and middle school outdoor track and field, softball, baseball and tennis teams.

The Fleetwood athletic trainers are hired through St. Luke's Hospital care system. This gave Hoover the opportunity to make a connection with the team doctor and directing physician Dr. Cohen, St. Luke's athletic training manager Jacqueline Baraciarte MBA, LAT, ATC, ITAT, the athletic director a Fleetwood area school district Matthew Diehl and other members of the St. Luke's team.

St. Luke's provides free physicals for all schools who have athletic trainers contracted through St. Luke's. Hoover was given the opportunity to attended and assist in the St. Luke's physical event hosted at FASD. The event provided Hoover the chance to network with other St. Luke's athletic trainers, build connections and apply her training from CU-Lock Haven to help conduct their physical event.

Hoover was also given the opportunity to participate in coaches', team and parent meetings to help advocate for the profession and make connections. Eventually, Hoover began communicating the roles athletic trainers provide to those in attendance at the meetings and was able to help build her public speaking skills to show her purpose of being an athletic training student at FASD and soon to be athletic trainer.

"While at Fleetwood high school, I gained my confidence as a clinician through the support and guidance of my preceptors Heather and Christian," Hoover said. "I was given the opportunity under the supervision of licensed athletic trainers to gain the freedom to make connections, apply my clinical skills, return to play decisions and judgement calls, which helped me find my voice as an athletic trainer. Being able to work alongside two amazing encouraging preceptors who helped me realize my worth and clinical abilities as an athletic trainer has been the biggest part of my immersive journey."

"My experience has also opened up the door to St. Luke's as a possible job opportunity that I am looking forward to be a part of," she added.