West Virginia University students took a clean sweep of every competition at the 2022 West Virginia Athletic Training Association Conference, held this spring on the WVU campus.
Athletic Training major Carter Kenton says that the event was a “great way” to end his senior year. “The WVATA conference was an enormous success for WVU, from hosting the conference on campus to filling the podium in all the competitions,” Kenton said. “The poster presentation was a culmination of everything I have learned and applied the past four years at WVU. Overall, the conference allowed everyone to meet and collaborate with current and future athletic trainers across the state.”
Kaila Hadrick, AT senior, says that it was an honor to connect with role models and industry pioneers. “Competing against other programs and being rewarded for our hard work clinically and academically is what we strove for, and we accomplished that,” she said. “We listened to mentors and built a network that will carry us through our career. Athletic trainers work hard for others and are rarely recognized. Bringing attention to what we do as students and professional healthcare workers is important.”
Another AT senior, Emily Raynard, says that she and her classmates enjoyed the experience and learned from speakers and peers. “Being selected for an oral presentation was an honor. It allowed me to improve my public speaking skills. Overall this conference supported my growth as a presenter and improved the skills I had developed from this program,” Raynard said.
Quiz Bowl team member and first place poster winner Tyler Repici, AT senior, appreciates the benefits from participating in the conference. "I was able to be a part of the winning quiz bowl team and present my poster project to many people in the profession. This has helped me grow tremendously and network as a young professional who will entering the field upon my graduation in May,” he said.
WVU Quiz Bowl winning team members include Hunter Robinson, SOM MSAT, first year; Tyler Repici, senior; and Kaila Hadrick, senior.
WVATA Student Oral Presentation winners are first place, Emily Raynard, senior; second place, Taylor Heckert, SOM MSAT, first year; and third place, place Kaila Hadrick, senior.
Student Poster Presentation winners include first place, Tyler Repici, senior; second place, Carter Kenton, senior; and third place Hunter Robinson, SOM MSAT, first year.
John Spiker, Randy Meador, Jack Brautigam, Robert Cable, Dan Martin and Joseph Beckett were inducted into the WVATA Hall of Fame, representing the last three classes.