Benilde-St.Margaret’s welcomes a new athletic trainer, Eric Hanson. Hanson is taking over for Beth Zook, who served as trainer for more than five years. Tria Orthopedics, one of the best orthopedic centers in Minnesota, has a relationship with BSM and other local schools and provides their athletic trainers; both Hanson and Zook are Tria employees who knew each other from prior work. The athletic trainer helps support all of the athletes at BSM. They provide a number of services, including conducting concussion protocols, taping and diagnosing injuries, and helping student athletes work through their rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Prior to coming to BSM, Hanson was the athletic trainer for Highland Park in St. Paul, and a clinic navigator at Tria Woodbury and Tria St. Paul. When the athletic trainer position opened at BSM, Zook thought that Hanson would be a good fit to take her spot, so she recommended that he interview for the position. While the athletic trainer position is essentially the same at every school, Hanson prefers working at BSM compared to his prior schools. “You guys take athletics a little bit more seriously, which I enjoy,” Hanson said.
When asked about his most and least favorite things about being an athletic trainer, Hanson talked about his love of working with kids and sports. However, athletes who struggle, yet will not make the changes to ensure their success, frustrate him. “[My] favorite thing is working with this demographic and this type of athletics, [both] are probably one of my top five things in the world. And then, the least favorite, when people complain but they refuse to help themselves,” Hanson said.
Hanson has been busy this fall working with the fall sports teams: football, girls’ volleyball, and boys’ and girls’ soccer. He has received a warm reception from all the teams and provided help and advice to various students. “Eric is a very personable and friendly person, very hands-on with his job and [he] takes it seriously,” senior quarterback Peyton Myers said.
Helping injured athletes is an important part of Hanson’s job, and BSM students appreciate his dedication. Hanson loves his job and takes it very seriously, but also knows how to make kids feel comfortable in times of distress. “When I went down with my ankle injury, he was the first person there to help me and was super nice and supportive during my recovery and rehab,” senior Lucas Runman from the football team said.
Hanson is excited to share his athletic training expertise with the BSM community. If students are interested in learning more about Eric or what an athletic trainer does, he invites them to come and ask him questions. Keep an eye out for him on the sidelines all year.