June/July 2021 - 11

2021 Athletic Trainer of the Year
being donated to the school by a former student, and
she is arranging for them to be given out to the families
of our kids here at school and out into the community, "
Mudd said. " She truly makes a difference for not just
our athletes, but the school and our community. "
Lisa Walker, Springville High School, Springville, UT
With 26 years worth of experience at Springville
High School, Lisa Walker has a number of awards
to speak to her proficiency in athletic care. Among
the awards include, Korey Stringer Institute (KSI)
Lifesaving Education Award, KSL Teacher Feature,
UHSAA Wrestling Appreciation, UATA High School
Athletic Trainer of the Year, UATA Hall of Fame, and the
RMATA Distinguished Service Award.
It's with that experience that Walker hopes to pay
forward to the next generation of trainers - mentoring
BYU athletic training students and helping them find
work post-graduation. With her background in helping
to write the state's heat safety plan, she was able
to implement a comprehensive plan in ensuring the
health and safety of student-athletes when the COVID
pandemic hit.
" She was instrumental in formulating a plan to test
all high school athletes on a biweekly basis in order
to allow sports to continue for high school athletes
in Utah. Testing continues with conference calls a
minimum of four times a week, " Jill Thackeray, Health/
PE teacher at Springville, said. " She works with the
state superintendents to ensure that athletes statewide
have equal opportunity to COVID testing. "
In the school, Walker teaches Emergency Medical
Response and Sports Medicine classes. Out of the
school, she has held such leadership positions as the
Utah Athletic Trainers Association secretary, treasurer,
and president, among others.
" She is the MVP of Springville High School athletics
and goes above and beyond her job description in
supporting students, athletes, coaches, and other
athletic trainers, putting in the extra effort required to
make athletic training the best it can be, " Thackeray
said.
Shaun Carmody, Cheyenne Mountain High School,
Colorado Springs, CO
Simply put, there is no quit in Shaun Carmody's
passion for providing athletic healthcare. Those who
work with him say he's never in need of respite from
his work, despite a field that often comes with a high
burnout rate. In fact, it's his warm approach and
personality that make him a standout with his peers
and student-athletes.
" The people he treats know that he has their best
interests in mind, but they also know they have an
important role to play. He has an amazing gift for
connecting and communicating with people-they know
he is concerned about them without his having to be
overly paternalistic, " Dave Adams, Cheyenne Mountain
tennis coach, said.
That approach extends to his training staff as well,
and he naturally models what he wants his mentees
to demonstrate when attending our school's athletes.
He has a calm demeanor and he communicates his
expectations clearly but in an encouraging manner.
" Outside of what he does for certified athletic
trainers, Shaun is a wonder to watch with his athletes
and the next generation of athletic trainers. Shaun's
ability to show compassion and knowledge for his
athletes is truly a wonder to watch, " Brianna ValdezVan
De Casteele, ATC, Rampart High School, said.
Ross Talpey, Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational
Technical High School, Bourne, MA
In a short amount of time, Ross Talpey has earned
the trust and confidence of his student-athletes
and coaches at Upper Cape Tech. With a measured
approach, Talpey takes the time to understand every
student-athletes' needs, both in the long and short
term.
His philosophy allows athletes to prevent injuries
through training programs, educates them on the
importance of healthy eating and lifestyles, and helps
injured athletes recover and return to play.
" Ross has earned the trust of the administration,
students, coaches, and parents through his dedication
and hard work. When people think about the character
of UCT sports it shows our athletes are a direct
reflection of Ross, " Billy Macuch, Upper Cape Tech
boys basketball coach, said.
In addition to serving as the Rams' ATC, Talpey also
serves in the Army reserves. During the COVID-19
pandemic, he was deployed throughout the state of
Massachusetts and administered testing to nursing
home facilities. Nevertheless, Talpey still provided care
for his UCT student-athletes, volunteering his time
during school vacation week to rehab students in time
for tournament games.
" With his full schedule, Ross even donates his time
to extend the hours of our weight room at the school, "
Macuch said. n
training-conditioning.com | 11
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June/July 2021

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