Senior’s Athletic Training Research Earns Top Award in Ohio

Rachel Drake to Have Research Published in Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Services Senior Rachel L. Drake is the latest in a long line of Wilmington College students to earn the Exceptional Undergraduate Original Research Award presented by the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association (OATA). (PICTURED) Rachel Drake explains her shoulder injury research to Brian Hickam, director of Watson Library. Drake, a senior from Fairfield, is the ninth WC athletic training major to receive this state award in the past 11 years. Her research is titled “Can Total Motion Release Increase Should Range of Motion in Collegiate Swimmers?” She will present her findings at the upcoming OATA State Symposium this month. Also, her findings will be published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Services. In recent weeks, Drake also learned she passed the Board of Certification Exam for athletic training, decided to attend graduate school in physician assistant training at the University of Dayton and her research won “Best of Class” at the Wilmington College Student-Faculty Research Forum. Co-authors of the research are WC faculty members Erika Smith-Goodwin, professor of athletic training and vice president for academic affairs; Linda Tecklenburg, associate professor of athletic training; and Alex Rhinehart, assistant professor of sport sciences. Goodwin, who teaches the research course, praised Drake as an outstanding student. “Completing original research is important in any field, but especially in athletic training,” she said, noting that Drake selected a topic in which she was particularly interested, as she was a collegiate swimmer. “This research experience should greatly benefit her as she goes to PA school.”