OXFORD, Ohio -- The River States Conference is pleased to announce the selection of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Assistant Athletic Trainer Stephanie Toubman as the 2025-26 River States Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year. Toubman, who just finished her first season as a full-time athletic trainer at SMWC after three years as a graduate assistant, is the second SMWC Pomeroy to win the award in the ten years of existence. She joins SMWC's Shannon Hamilton, who won the award in 2024.
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.
SMWC Associate Vice President for Athletics Kevin Lanke said Toubman's commitment to student-athlete welfare extends well beyond her responsibilities at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, noting that she consistently puts athletes' health first regardless of the uniform they wear.
"Within the RSC, Steph is often the home gameday trainer at basketball, softball and volleyball home contests, and treats every athlete regardless of school in a caring way; I have witnessed Steph giving her contact information to at least one opposing coach who had an athlete injury happen at our place, just in case that athlete had any issues on the way home," Lanke said. "Her care for student-athletes and their health goes above and beyond just her SMWC responsibilities, and the conference is fortunate to have someone with Steph’s passion and determination as a member of our athletic training program.
SMWC football operations director Griffin Olson summarized Toubman's impact on SMWC football as transformational.
“Steph has been a foundational part of SMWC Football’s success and has helped establish the standard our program operates by every day," Olson said. "A team member since day one and now leading our transition to NAIA, I can truly say there is truly no SMWC Football without her impact, care, and commitment.”
Toubman earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Pre-Athletic Training and Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a concentration in Pre-Athletic Training in May of 2021 and a Masters of Athletic Training from Castleton University in 2022. Most recently Toubman earned a Doctorate of Athletic Training from Indiana State University in May of 2024.
YEAR BY YEAR -- RIVER STATES CONFERENCE ATHLETIC TRAINER OF THE YEAR
2016-17 -- Tara Gerlach, Rio Grande (Ohio)
2017-18 -- Tara Gerlach, Rio Grande (Ohio)
2018-19 -- Andrew Bolt, Asbury (Ky.)
2019-20 -- Ariel Allman, Midway (Ky.)
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.)
2024-25 -- Anthony Passarette, Midway (Ky.)
2025-26 -- Stephanie Toubman, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.)