By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- More than 20 student-athletes on this year's Willamette University teams are also student employees in the Division of Student Affairs. The Department of Athletics is part of Student Affairs, along with Student Activities, the Chaplains' Office, Multicultural Affairs, Housing and Conferences, the Bishop Wellness Center, Gender Resource and Advocacy Center, Bon Appetit Dining Services, student programs such as the Bistro, and the Tokyo International University of America Student Affairs Office.
This is the second in a series of five articles about student-athletes who are working in the Division of Student Affairs. The focus of this article is on student-athletes who are employed in the Department of Athletics and working with Athletic Training or Athletic Communications.
Following COVID-19 protocols is a key focus of student employees working in the Burr Treatment Center with Willamette's athletic trainers. There have always been protocols for dealing with injuries in athletic training offices, but the additional level of preparing and maintaining a safe environment due to COVID-19 has added to the workload.
According to Bailey Hillmick (Sr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) from the softball team, "My duties as a student athletic trainer include disinfecting the tables and equipment following use, assisting the student-athletes with their rehab exercises should they need it, helping student-athletes get hooked up to modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and gameready machines, and talking to the athletes about how they are doing and what they are coming in for so we can keep an accurate chart of their progress.
"For the most part, COVID-19 has not ultimately changed the way that we do our job, other than being more conscious about cleaning frequently touched items and keeping our distance when possible," Hillmick added. "We still have the same cleaning and assisting protocols as before, we are just extra careful about things now, including taking the student-athletes' temperatures upon arrival. There is not as much traffic in the training room as before because, with COVID-19, we are not providing preventative taping so that we can limit the amount of contact we have with people."
Caroline Adams (Sr., M, Snohomish, WA/Archbishop Murphy HS) from the women's soccer team also works as a student athletic trainer.
"COVID-19 has impacted how I work because the usual room that the training room is in has been changed to one of the gyms," Adams commented. "Also, student workers are not able to eat meals in the training room. This makes busy days where I have limited time to eat lunch between class and work or before practice."
In addition to Hillmick and Adams, other student-athletes who work with athletic training are Katie Hill (So., GK, Belmont, CA/Carmont HS) and Shelby Sawyer (So., GK, Marysville, WA/Bio Med Academy) from the women's lacrosse team, Cassie Cosler (Jr., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS) and Jewel Fleckenstein (Jr., UT, Wasilla, AK/Mat-Su Middle College School) of the softball team, and Elena Vasquez (Sr., OH, Kingston, WA/North Kitsap HS) of the volleyball team.
Dani Queja (So., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School), who plays volleyball for the Bearcats, works in Athletic Communications. Her efforts involve video and social media.
"Chris Sabato wanted to start putting out practice highlight videos for Willamette's sports teams and I have filled the position to capture practice video," Queja said. My duties include reaching out to coaches to confirm their practice date and time, capture videos, and upload the best videos for them to be edited by Chris."
Queja can complete her tasks with limited COVID protocols.
"COVID-19 hasn't played a huge role in how I do my job since I'm physically distanced from the athletes anyway," Queja said. "When I work, I've been given the opportunity to find which practices fit best with my schedule."
Also working in Athletic Communications is Natalie Klotz (Jr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS). Klotz, like Queja, is a volleyball player.
Hillmick, Adams, Queja, and the other student-athletes working in the Department of Athletics have a chance to be involved with athletes on their own team as well as those on other teams. The student employees learn new skills and get to earn money at the same time.
"I am able to gain experience working with the athletic trainers, and learning along the way," Hillmick noted. "Every day while I am there, I am thankful that the athletic trainers take the time to teach us about what they are doing and why, and that helps me learn in my classes as well."
"What I like the most about my job is the opportunity to experience different sports, their team atmosphere, and different coaching styles," Queja said. "Being at every teams' full practice allows me to see each individual's passion when it comes to their sport. I am able to see the grit in their eyes and their hard work translates that."
"I am participating in Student Employment because I wanted to get experience in an athletic training room to see what the job is like," Adams noted. "In addition, it is nice to have some extra money to spend throughout the year. I like interacting with the athletes at my job, and hearing that their injuries are giving them less trouble or they're improving to the point where they can go back to practice. I also like interacting with the athletic trainers and hearing about their lives. They have given me great advice and I feel that I can trust and rely on them."
A balancing act regarding time management is required to coordinate coursework, practices, and a job in Athletics. Student-athletes have to manage their time even if they are not working. The student employees in Athletics have an added layer of time constraints.
"Most of my classes are in the mornings, and due to COVID, we only practice three times a week," Queja said. "I am able to have a pretty full week schedule: on days I don't have practice, I work; and on days that I don't have work, I have practice. So in a good way, it keeps me busy and productive."
"This job has a fairly flexible schedule where we are able to tell them what hours we are available," Hillmick stated. "Most of the time I work in between two of my classes because I have a longer break, and it works out well."
Queja, Hillmick, and Adams all were glad that working in Athletics provided them with great experiences and a sense of belonging to something even bigger than their sports teams.
"I feel that having student-athletes working for the athletic department really highlights the phrase 'Bearcat Family,'" Queja commented. "We are a family, and at every practice, it feels like I'm taking highlight videos for my 'brothers and sisters.'"
"I really appreciate the opportunity I've been given to work in the training room," Adams said. "It's been a great experience!"
"Working as a student-athlete is a great experience," Hillmick noted. "Especially with this job because I am learning about injuries and injury management on athletes ... while being an athlete."
Student-Athletes who Work in the Division of Student Affairs:
Athletic Training, Athletic Communications
Women's Lacrosse
Katie Hill, Athletic Training
Shelby Sawyer, Athletic Training
Women's Soccer
Caroline Adams, Athletic Training
Softball
Bailey Hillmick, Athletic Training
Cassie Cosler, Athletic Training
Jewel Fleckenstein, Athletic Training
Volleyball
Natalie Klotz, Athletic Communications
Dani Queja, Athletic Communications
Elena Vasquez, Athletic Training
