Shannon Hamilton Named RSC Athletic Trainer of the Year
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- The River States Conference is pleased to announce the selection of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Head Athletic Trainer Shannon Hamilton as the 2023-24 River States Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year. Hamilton, who just completed her fifth season as a Pomeroy, earns the AT of the Year Award for the first time, and is the first SMWC trainer to win the award.
The RSC Athletic Trainer of the Year award annually recognizes outstanding dedication, service and care in the athletic training field for RSC member institutions and the conference as a whole. It was established in 2016-17. The trainer recognized as RSC Athletic Trainer of the Year is forwarded to the national office for consideration for NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Associate Vice President, Athletics Kevin Lanke lauded Hamilton's commitment to her student athletes, which comes in particularly close quarters on the SMWC campus.
"Shannon Hamilton and the entire SMWC athletic training staff are outstanding ambassadors for and key contributors to Pomeroy athletics," Lanke said. "Shannon leads a team that creatively uses hallways, the main competition gymnasium, and other areas of the Knoerle Center for treatment and rehabilitation, and their creativity allows our student-athletes to have individual care that is critical in maintaining overall physical and mental health."
Hamilton joined Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 2019 through the University's partnership with Union Hospital. While on campus, she oversees the health of over 300 student athletes in a space built for 100, and introduces her student-athletes to different complementary integrative care techniques like yoga.
YEAR BY YEAR -- RIVER STATES CONFERENCE ATHLETIC TRAINER OF THE YEAR
2016-17 -- Tara Gerlach, University of Rio Grande (Ohio)
2017-18 -- Tara Gerlach, University of Rio Grande (Ohio)
2018-19 -- Andrew Bolt, Asbury (Ky.) University
2019-20 -- Ariel Allman, Midway (Ky.) University
2020-21 -- Kristen Semrow, IU Southeast
2021-22 -- Ashley Interrante, Point Park (Pa.)
2022-23 -- Tara Gerlach, Rio Grande (Ohio)
2023-24 -- Shannon Hamilton, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.)