BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Three West Virginia Wesleyan College athletic trainers have been awarded by the West Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association this past spring.

There are five awards given out by the WVATA each year and WVWC is responsible for housing three of the five. The awards won are WVATA Hall of Fame, WVATA Service Award and WV AT of the Year.

Dr. Dan Martin, director of the Masters in Athletic Training Program; Dr. Rae Emrick, then Director of the School of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, and Hideomi Masuda, athletic trainer, were those who received the awards.

Martin was inducted into the 2022 WVATA Hall of Fame. He was a charter member of the WVATA when it was first established in 1983. Martin was uncertain of who nominated him but he found out a few days prior to the meeting because the WVATA contacted him to make sure he would be attending.

“For the association to recognize me for years of service, it was quite an honor, and it was quite a surprise,” he said.

And for WVATA to recognize three faculty/staff members from WVWC is “just fantastic,” Martin added.

Emrick accepted the 2022 WVATA Service Award. This award recognizes athletic trainers who give service to an organization, and to the profession as a whole across the state of West Virginia.

“It was a great honor and humbling to receive this,” she said. “It is nice to have others see and recognize your contributions that you have made throughout the year.”

She had been nominated by one of Wesleyan’s own in the AT staff, and believes she was nominated because of how she had handled COVID protocols when she was the head of the athletic department. Emrick retired this past spring.

Masuda was awarded WV AT of the Year. He is responsible for the women’s soccer team, the men’s basketball team, and the baseball team here at WVWC.

Masuda took the time to explain how the experiences here at Wesleyan and being a full-time AT have helped him grow as a professional.

“I am very honored and humbled to receive this award along with Rae and Dr. Martin,” he remarked. “I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity given to me by the College.”

Faculty were not the only ones in the spotlight for Wesleyan at WVATA. Theresa Burgess ‘22, Grace Lee ‘22 and Easton Perry ‘23 were those who represented the WVATA and the State of WV at the District III – Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association Student Quiz Bowl in Charlotte, NC on May 13.