Say hello to Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Walt McKean!
Walt is in his first year at UMS-Wright as the Assistant Athletic Trainer. Walt comes to UMS-Wright from Oxford, Mississippi, where he worked with the Ole Miss Health and Sports Performance Team. Mr. McKean was raised in Mobile, Alabama and attended UMS-Wright for fourteen years.
Walt graduated from Troy University with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. He worked with many sports teams during his time at Troy before leaving in 2016 for Oxford, MS. During his time in Oxford, he worked out of the Manning Center Athletic Training room with both Football and Track and Field.
We are proud to have you on the Encore Sports Medicine Team, Walt, and wish you a Happy National Athletic Training Month!
Happy National Athletic Training Month to Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Chad Abrams!
Chad began his athletic training career as a Junior at Reeltown High School in 1983. He became BOC certified through the internship route in 1995. He has been the Head Athletic Trainer at Reeltown since 1985. He graduated from Auburn University in 1992 in Agriscience in Education. While there, he was a Student Athletic Trainer with Auburn University Athletics, completing his Masters in Health and Human Performance at Auburn in 2010.
Chad taught Agribusiness at Reeltown for three years, worked in production at Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Manufacture for 16 years, and was the Sports Medicine Outreach Coordinator for East Alabama Medical Center for 12 years. He was also the owner of Reeltown Tire and Auto Sales.
He has been employed by Encore Rehabilitation since 2018 as a Athletic Trainer Area Manager for the East Alabama Region.
We would like to wish Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Scott Lochridge a Happy National Athletic Training Month! Thank you for all you do for Cullman High School Athletics and the Cullman community! We are proud to have you on our Team!
Congratulations to Ah’monte’ Summers, Athlete of the Month for Encore Rehabilitation-Center Point!
Ah’monte’ is a multi-sport athlete competing in Football, Baseball, and Wrestling for the Center Point Eagles! He has placed 4th in wrestling for the County. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports and video games.
Ah’monte’ is the son of Stephanie Summers and Truman McSwain.
We are proud of you, Ah’monte’!
Encore Sports Medicine is the Official Sports Medicine Provider for Center Point High School Athletics! We LOVE to see you move!
Happy National Athletic Training Month to Ellynn Rolett!
Ellynn does a fabulous job taking care of athletes in Pickens County including Pickens County High School, Aliceville High School, and Pickens Academy. She drives many miles with a smile on her face to provide the best healthcare for our student athletes! Thanks, Ellynn!
Encore is proud to be the Official Sports Medicine Provider for Pickens County Schools and the Alabama High School Athletic Association!
We would like to wish Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Bo Shirey a Happy National Athletic Training Month! Thank you for all you do, Bo, providing coverage for Good Hope High School and the Cullman community!
Introducing Alisha Tolbert, Athletic Trainer with Encore Rehabilitation!
Alisha is from Wetumpka, Alabama. She attended Troy University from 2009-2013 where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training. She completed an internship with the 2013 North Carolina State Baseball Team and was fortunate to attend the NCAA College World Series with the Wolfpack before starting graduate school at Louisiana State University. From 2013-2015, she completed her Masters in Kinesiology at Louisiana State University as a Graduate Assistant. Upon graduation in 2015, she was hired as the certified Athletic Trainer for the LSU Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Teams. In 2017, she accepted the Athletic Trainer position at Gulf Shores High School. She began the Sports Medicine program at GSHS in the 2019-2020 school year and has enjoyed that aspect of the Athletic Training profession as well. She has been a Certified Athletic Trainer since May 2013 and is thankful to live out her greatest passion mentoring students and providing healthcare for her athletes each and every day.
Thank you for all you do, Alisha! Happy National Athletic Training Month!
To celebrate National Athletic Training Month we wanted to spotlight all of our local athletic trainers. This weeks spotlight is Kaylea Johnson, ATC. Kaylea covers our Fayette County Region as well as Bevill State, Fayette Campus. We are thankful to have Kaylea as a part of our Encore Team!
Why did you choose athletic training as a career? I found athletic training by chance. I knew I wanted to be in the medical field and coming from a sports back ground it just made sense. A friend of mine knew RT Floyd and put me in contact. It was one of the best decisions of my life!
What has been the highlight of your career? The relationships I have made. These bonds make my job so much easier and give it so much meaning. When the athletes, parents and coaches develop a relationship with you, they learn to trust you and that makes a world of a difference in this job. There is nothing like being chased down in the Walmart parking lot by a graduated athlete for a hug and a chat. Getting to see these kids grow, mature, and develop into adults, and having a hand in that is the most rewarding feeling!
What does it mean to be back home taking care of the people in your community? When I attended Fayette County High School, we did not have an athletic trainer. For me to be able to come back into this community that I grew up in and love, to provide a service not given to me is rewarding. I love being home and being able to care for these athletes, because they deserve to have someone there to respond to them in their time of need.
What would you tell future students that might want to become an AT? This is a career you get into because it is something you love. The crazy hours and long nights are definitely worth it. This job is very fun and rewarding. The lives you touch and relationships you make are absolutely priceless!
Happy National Athletic Training Month to Eric Oehms! Eric is our Mississippi Athletic Training Director as well as Head Athletic Trainer at St. Patrick Catholic High School, Biloxi, Mississippi! Thank you for everything you do, Eric!
Encore Rehabilitation Co-Owner Paige Plash, PT, wishes all our Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainers a Happy National Athletic Training Month! Thank you for your commitment and dedication!
