Lakeland University athletic trainer Garth Laszinski recently was honored by the Wisconsin Athletic Training Association for his years of work in his field when he received the organization's Distinguished Service Award.

Laszinski received the award at the WATA awards banquet April 10 in Oshkosh at the Oshkosh Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center as part of the WATA's 50th annual symposium and business meeting. Per the WATA, the association gives the award recognizing service to the WATA and outstanding contribution to the profession of athletic training at the local, state, regional and/or national level, and Laszinski was one of six from around the state to receive the award this year.
 
Laszinski is in his 19th year as an athletic trainer at Lakeland, the longest-tenured trainer on the Muskies' sports medicine staff. He primarily provides coverage for the Muskies women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's basketball and softball teams, and members of the women's basketball and women's volleyball teams were both in attendance at the banquet in addition to Lakeland Director of Athletics Dan Artamenko.

"My first thoughts/emotions when I was told I was receiving the award were surprise and gratitude," said Laszinski. "Athletic Trainers are more the behind-the-scenes member of the team and staff, and don't usually get much recognition or attention. So just being nominated, much less being awarded the Distinguished Service Award is special and really means a lot."

Athletic trainers, as described by the National Athletic Trainers Association, are "highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state's statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, athletic trainers provide primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical assessment/diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions."

In the case of a college athletics program like Lakeland's, athletic trainers work with teams and individuals on those teams to keep student-athletes healthy and rehabilitate and recover from injuries, among other duties. Trainers are regularly seen at many practices and at all home events and much like coaches and athletes, spend countless hours with those teams.

"I would say that the people are a big reason I have been at Lakeland for 19 years," said Laszinski. "We have a great group of athletic trainers, coaches and athletes. I have made some great friendships in my time here. There are a lot of former coaches and alumni who I still stay in touch with.  It can be a bit cliché to say, but it does feel like a family.

"I think the reason I enjoy working with college athletes is because they keep me young. It is also nice working with a population that is passionate about what they do. If they get hurt, they are motivated to get back to sport. There is no better feeling than getting someone who was injured back on the court or field doing what they love."