Katie Pierce named NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year

A key component to a student-athlete’s success is a dedicated team of athletic trainers, and University of Saint Mary students have the support of one of the best practitioners in the nation.

USM Assistant Athletic Trainer Katie Pierce received the Athletic Trainer of the Year award from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in September. She was also named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year in July.

“I am so happy for Katie and for what this award means for her personally and for the University of Saint Mary,” KCAC Commissioner Scott Crawford said. “This honor is especially meaningful in these challenging times under the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of athletic training in making sure our student-athletes have the best care possible. I cannot express enough how proud the KCAC is of Katie.”

USM Head Athletic Trainer Raeann Bromert nominated Pierce for her dedication, dependability, and mentorship of other athletic training staff members and students. Pierce also holds leadership roles at the conference and national levels, serving as secretary for the KCAC athletic trainer’s group and is a member of the NAIA athletic training newsletter committee.

“I feel empowered and fortunate to work with such a hardworking and collaborative group of athletic trainers at Saint Mary and in the KCAC to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all conference athletes,” Pierce said. “I would like to thank Raeann Bromert for the nomination, for pushing me out of my comfort zone and to be a better athletic trainer.”