State wrestling tournament becomes a real-world classroom for Iowa State athletic training students 

 
Students gain clinical experience that prepares them for their careers. 

Ames, Iowa – For boys’ high school wrestlers in Iowa, there’s no bigger stage than the four-day state tournament. Over 1,000 athletes come ready to compete for a title and Iowa State athletic training students are on hand to help them get there. 

The university’s athletic training program has supported the event for over five decades, providing the critical care athletes need and creating an opportunity for students to gain clinical experience.  

“Close to 30 students work with the team of certified athletic trainers, physicians, and paramedics who are on site for all sessions,” said Mary Meier, clinical professor of kinesiology and health. “Our athletic training students gain guided, supervised, hands-on clinical experiences with real patients in a setting where they have to put their training to work and respond quickly.” 

Where preparation meets pressure 

Wrestling presents a unique challenge because certain injuries, such as controlling bleeding, have strict rules about how long an athlete can be out of the match. 

“In wrestling, you can either wrestle or you can’t, there’s no second half,” said first-year athletic training graduate student, Gracee Hermsen. “You have to respond quickly and make the right call to get the athlete back into the match safely.” 

“I had the opportunity to work the event as a sophomore,” added Selena Pineda-Martinez, also a first-year graduate student in the program. “I remember thinking ‘can I do this?’ But, my training kicked in immediately. An opportunity like this forces you to think on your feet.” 

The state wrestling experience has shown hundreds of Iowa State athletic training students how their knowledge translates into real practice and prepares them for the profession.  

Preparing students for their careers 

For Hermsen and Pineda-Martinez, the 2026 meet offered a chance to build new skills as they stepped into co-lead roles for Iowa State’s student athletic training team.  

“We made the schedule for all students, we packed the supplies, we set up the athletic training room, and we assigned people to mats,” Pineda-Martinez said. “I could see myself working at a high school and planning events like this builds managerial skills.” 

Meier said the experience prepares students for their careers while strengthening relationships across Iowa.  

“Our students learn to make sound decisions under pressure, care for athletes from every corner of the state, and work as part of a coordinated medical team,” she said. “That combination of service and real-time learning is why this partnership has endured for more than fifty years and why it continues to shape our athletic trainers.” 

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