Jun 13, 2018Sponsorship Provides Athletic Trainers
The Proctor School District in Minnesota recently named its new $10 million hockey arena the St. Luke’s Proctor Sports & Event Center, as part of a partnership with St. Luke’s health care system.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, St. Luke’s will give the district a $300,000 gift that will be paid out over 10 years, as well as the use of three athletic trainers.
“This is a venture that St. Luke’s is extremely proud to be involved with,” John Strange, President and CEO of St. Luke’s, said.
John Engelking, Superintendent, described St. Luke’s as ideal for his teams’ needs.
“We were looking for a partner that could bring sports medicine at a bigger scale and bigger scope, so St. Luke’s had everything we were looking for,” Engelking said. “Strength and fitness, athletic trainers and the ability to do physical therapy all wrapped into a program that has a lot of prestige and a lot of notoriety.”
Aaron Bresnahan, a clinic manager for St. Luke’s orthopedics and sports medicine, said the deal will help give Proctor greater access to athletic trainers than most schools can expect. He said high schools usually can only have one athletic trainer for the sport that has the most contact, such as hockey or football, but the deal will allow Proctor to provide athletic trainers for sports such as volleyball and basketball.
“It’s very rare that any local high schools have this kind of presence with the athletic trainers,” Bresnahan said. “Typically one is provided. In this case, we’re providing three.”
The athletic trainers from St. Luke’s not only have experience with strength and conditioning, but also in nutrition and rehabilitation, something Dan Stauber, head coach for boys’ varsity ice hockey at Proctor, said will be very important..
“It’s going to be a whole cooperation between the two (St. Luke’s and the high school) that will probably be the first around in the area specifically for our athletes,” Stauber said. “I know other schools have programs, but not like the ones we’re going to develop at St. Luke’s. It’s going to enhance our kids’ opportunities to be the best they can be.”
