Kelsey Ackerman | Sports Co-Editor
Lisa Bengtson, Athletic Trainer at Buena Vista University (BVU), now resides not far from her hometown of Alta, IA. Bengtson completed her undergrad at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. She then worked as a Grad Assistant at Grundy Center High School while getting her Masters at University of Northern Iowa (UNI).
“I originally went to school to become a physical therapist, but after starting the athletic training program, I felt like it was a better fit and enjoyed the variety in my day to day schedule,” Bengtson said.
Bengtson works with various sports that sometimes change depending on the year. Specifically the past two years, she has worked with the volleyball team in the fall and the women’s basketball team in the winter.
“Being a part of moments like the men’s basketball team making it to the National Tournament and the volleyball team improving year after year as well as the women’s basketball team fighting last year to the end of the conference tournament continues to drive my passion. Getting to see my athletes succeed and do well after all the work they put into their sports is my favorite part,” Bengtson said.
Bengtson uses her talents, skills, and knowledge to help athletes be the best they can in their sport as well as to overcome injuries affecting an aspect of their game.
Freshman volleyball player Emily Mathews is quite familiar with Bengtson after playing the fall season with a torn rotator cuff and just recently getting surgery to correct it.
“Lisa has been so great with working on my injury as well as recovery this year. Whether it is talking to my physicians or helping me get through my exercises, she is always able to help me out in a way that I can understand. She is trying to make my recovery as speedy as possible, which is all I can ask for,” Mathews said.
With the job of Athletic Trainer for a certain team, comes sometimes long hours throughout the day as well as traveling with the team. Some of this traveling involves long trips over an entire weekend.
“Getting the help others do things that they love to do makes the late nights and weekends on the road worth it because I am doing something that I love and enjoy,” Bengtson said.
In addition to working with various Beaver athletic teams, Bengtson also teaches and mentors the athletic training students at BVU. Whether the students have her in class or she is watching over them as they provide various treatments in the Athletic Training room to athletes, Bengtson is a part of their education in becoming an Athletic Trainer.
“I love seeing those ‘ah-ha’ moments where what we teach in the classroom connects to what they see in the clinic. The students here at BVU are great and are only getting better each year,” Bengtson said.
The month of March marks National Athletic Training Month, with the theme being: “We prepare. You Perform”. This is exactly what Bengtson feels the Athletic Training staff does summed up in four words.
