Columbus State Named PBC Athletic Training Staff of the Year

HILTON HEAD, SC -- The Peach Belt Conference announced that Columbus State University has been named the 2011-12 Training Staff of the Year at the league’s annual meeting in Hilton Head.  The award was presented to CSU head athletic trainer Jared Sandler at Tuesday’s awards banquet, who accepted on behalf of his entire staff.  The award is voted on by PBC Athletic Trainers.

“I am fortunate to have an incredibly supportive administration, excellent team physicians, accommodating coaches, and a hard working staff,” said Sandler. “We are honored and humbled to receive this award from our athletic training peers.”

Sandler and the CSU training staff faced a monumental challenge in 2011-12 as they were tasked with hosting four Peach Belt Conference tournament championships this year.  Over 1,000 PBC student-athletes participated in the basketball, baseball, softball and golf tournaments hosted by CSU.  Two of those events, the baseball and golf, were held at off-campus sites requiring the CSU staff to set up mobile treatment areas.

Sandler accepted the award on behalf of his staff which includes graduate assistants Ashley Pearce, Adam Rooks, Kelli Seremet and Kathleen Simone.  The CSU training staff also works closely with the Hughston Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic and head team physician Dr. Champ Baker, Jr.  Julio Llanos is the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at CSU and oversees the sports medicine program.