For Amy Olar and Kelsie Stunden, athletic performance extends far beyond the playing surface. The duo form the Niagara Knights two-person team of athletic therapists. They are responsible for assessment, prevention, immediate care and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries for all of the Niagara Knights varsity athletes.
Olar and Stunden will be found behind the scenes at every Knights game this season providing therapy services and emergency care. In addition they will each spend time at the Niagara College Athletic Therapy Clinic providing preventative and rehabilitation services to all of Knights' varsity athletes.
Amy is entering her fourth season with the Knights. Hailing from Sault Ste. Marie, Olar made the move to Niagara in August 2013 to work with the Knights soccer teams. She earned an Occupational Therapy Assistant/Physiotherapy Assistant diploma from Sault College before earning a Bachelors Degree in Athletic Training with a minor as a Health and Fitness Specialist from Lake Superior State University in Michigan. Since her graduation she has the opportunity to work at a number of clinics and has been involved with university, collegiate, and semi-professional sport.
Since joining Niagara College, Olar has cited both professional growth and the growth of Niagara's therapy clinic as a strength of the Knights program. "Over my time here I have been able to grow in the profession with the opportunities I have been presented at Niagara," said Olar. "The therapy clinic at the college has grown into a facility where the athletes can get the best care and resources for what they need."
Joining Olar as the second member of the Knights athletic therapy team is Kelsie Stunden. She joins Niagara with extensive experience, including time spent with Sr. A and Jr. A hockey teams, Jr B lacrosse, and the Ontario Varsity Football League. In addition she has volunteered her time at major games such as the 2015 Pan Am Games, 2016 Women's World Junior Hockey Championships, and the 2016 World Wheelchair Tennis Championships. Kelsie is a certified member of the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association, a Registered Massage Therapist, a Registered Kinesiologist and is certified as a first responder by the Canadian Red Cross.
"I am excited to be joining the Knights family and am looking forward to everything that this season will bring," said Stunden about entering her first season with the Knights.
Director of Athletics and Recreation Matthew Davies echoed sentiments on the growth and strength of the athletic therapy team and clinic at Niagara College. "Having a pair of dedicated athletic therapists provides a tremendous standard of care for our student-athletes in injury assessment, prevention, emergency care, and recovery," said Davies. "Providing our student-athletes an exceptional high performance experience is at the core of what we do," added Davies, "and Amy and Kelsie are an important piece of that experience."
Olar will get back on the field shortly as the Knights soccer teams take to the pitch on August 12th for the beginning of training game. Stunden will get started shortly after when the Knights volleyball and basketball teams hit the court for training camp beginning September 12th. For more information on the Knights Athletic Therapy Clinic click here.
