By Robert Synodi '24 / Sports Information Office

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- When one of our own athletic trainers at Eastern Connecticut State University accomplishes something important, it is important to recognize them for their achievement. Kelsey Rynkiewicz, a King's College (PA) graduate, current PhD doctoral student at the University of Connecticut and current athletic trainer at Eastern, fits that description.

Recently, Rynkiewicz won the New Horizon Award, which recognizes one athletic trainer nationally (in the collegiate setting) who possesses the abilities of a potential leader in the profession. Her hard work and undeniable dedication to Division III athletics makes her well-deserving of the award. The National Athletic Trainers' Association's (NATA) Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine (ICSM) establishes eight awards each year across all three divisions, the New Horizon Award being one of them. This is a national award in which candidates are nominated by another athletic trainer in the profession based upon certain eligibility and selection criteria.

Now in her sixth year with the Eastern intercollegiate athletic staff, Rynkiewicz was nominated for the award by Eastern athletic trainer Julie Alexander.

"It's difficult for me to describe Kelsey with words alone," says Alexander. "You have to experience working alongside her to understand her dedication to student-athlete healthcare and safety. You have to observe her to understand her compassion and skill. You have to hear what student-athletes, coaches, physicians, parents, students and administrators say about her to understand the impact that she has on a day-to-day basis."

Recently, Rynkiewicz discussed the award and her origins as to how she became an athletic trainer. She is from Nanticoke, Pa., and as a kid, liked to play doctor by helping her little brother put bandages on or showing him how to use crutches. This is where her original desire to help people began. She did not know at the time that the pretend game would end up inspiring her main profession as an adult: an athletic trainer.

Rynkiewicz's true desire to help patients and student-athletes began in 2012 at King's College. She went to an open house where there was an athletic training program information session for prospective students. She loved what the profession had to offer – the opportunity to work in healthcare, help patients succeed and get back to their optimal level of function, and teach as a professor – and instantly knew what she wanted to do. 

Kelsey's professors at King's were very influential in motivating her to become an athletic trainer in Division III athletics (of which she likes the small environment, the character, and the enthusiasm). They also inspired her desire to get involved in the profession through service and committee work. Without her experiences as an undergraduate and graduate student and her mentors along the way, she wouldn't have been as successful today. 

At Eastern, Rynkiewicz has assisted with policy development including formalizing new policies, conducting annual cardiac emergency practice sessions and emergency action plan reviews with coaches and other staff, and planning COVID-19 protocols. She has also served as a preceptor for athletic training students from the University of Connecticut and taught as an adjunct instructor in UConn's Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program.

In addition to her work with the campus community, Rynkiewicz contributes to the area community at large. She has contributed to many athletic programs in the state by working as a per diem athletic trainer. Rynkiewicz also served as an athletic trainer for the Newington-based Connecticut Chiefs junior hockey team for two years through last March. With the Chiefs, she was responsible for overseeing the sports medicine care of the three teams within the organization.

Before COVID-19, Kelsey often brought her dog, Kona, into work because of the positive effect that the dog had on everyone's mental health. Rynkiewicz adopted Kona in October of 2019 after she was being fostered by Eastern head softball coach Diana Pepin. Though her exact breed is unknown, DNA testing of one of her siblings revealed a mix of Boston Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, and Labrador Retriever. Being an incredibly smart and likeable dog, Kona never failed to put a smile on everyone's face, whether they be students, student-athletes, or coaches. This gave Rynkiewicz the idea to train Kona to be a therapy dog. Now two years old, Kona has finished with the general obedience training, and has moved on to specific therapy dog training. 

"Kelsey treats all of our  student-athletes with high quality medical care," notes Alexander. "She manages to treat each individual athlete as if they each are the only person in the room, and has developed a focus on mental health and has that in mind with every communication with a student-athlete."

Rynkiewicz's career pursuits are centered around athletic training, preferably at the Division III level – where she did her undergraduate and graduate work and enjoys the family-oriented environment -- as well as teaching as an adjunct professor at the college level.

Kelsey possesses a drive within herself to be the best that she is capable of being, and loves helping athletes get back to their game on time and better than before. But even more importantly, she just loves helping people, both physically and mentally.