• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • The Wellesley (COVID) 100
      The Wellesley (COVID) 100
    • In memory of Professor Rebecca Summerhays
      In memory of Professor Rebecca Summerhays
    • Trans flag controversy: College power washes staircase after trans flag is painted over Harry Potter spray paint
      Trans flag controversy: College power washes staircase after trans flag is painted over Harry Potter spray paint
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • The News in Conversation: Wellesley Against Mass Incarceration
      The News in Conversation: Wellesley Against Mass Incarceration
    • Editorial Board calls for keeping up trans flag murals
      Editorial Board calls for keeping up trans flag murals
    • No, Elon Musk’s Twitter will not restore free speech
      No, Elon Musk’s Twitter will not restore free speech
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • Be/longing Centers Connection and Care
      Be/longing Centers Connection and Care
    • No image
      Birds Falling Upwards: Wellesley College Theater’s The Moors is a Must-See
    • No image
      Sometimes you just need to read a YA “Groundhog Day” to feel something
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Health and Wellness
    • February Student Athlete of the Month
      February Student Athlete of the Month
    • Athletics Update
      Athletics Update
    • Victoria Garrick Speaks on Mental Health
      Victoria Garrick Speaks on Mental Health
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Wellesley News Leadership Changes Completely Peacefully Without Any Suspicious Disappearances At All
      Wellesley News Leadership Changes Completely Peacefully Without Any Suspicious Disappearances At All
    • Solve Your Connection Problems With Wellesley Insecure
      Solve Your Connection Problems With Wellesley Insecure
    • Mayhem strikes Wellesley as paper towels removed from campus
      Mayhem strikes Wellesley as paper towels removed from campus
  • Miscellanea
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
      Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
    • 50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
      50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Faye Washburn, Olivia Holbrook Sports and WellnessNovember 20, 2019

Get to Know the Garden Level: Loiterers and Athletic Trainers Alike

Within the hallowed singular hall of the garden level of the Keohane Sports Center, you’ll find the place where the magic happens- the Athletic Training Room. The Athletic Training Room, known to locals as the ATR, is staffed by the Director of Sports Medicine and Wellbeing, Niki Rybko, and Assistant Athletic Trainers, Sarah Jean Paul and Autumn Overhiser. The ATR is a space for student athletes to find salvation from injuries of all varieties that they receive during play; it is also an environment for loitering, due to the caring and loving nature of the ATR staff.

Few students outside of the athletic community are aware of the ATR. The most senior member of the ATR staff is Niki Rybko. Rybko, who prior to Wellesley worked with the men’s crew team at Harvard, is in her fifth year with the Blue. As Director of Sports Medicine and Wellbeing, Rybko works collaboratively with the strength and conditioning staff as well as the nutrition team to care for the overall wellbeing of student athletes. Rybko said in an interview with the Wellesley News that being able to collaborate with so many different colleagues is one of the greatests strengths of Wellesley Athletics. “The department represents a family and community where everyone knows each other, ” said Rybko. 

Another aspect of Wellesley she enjoys is getting to interact with a diverse student athlete population. Rybko said that “the student athletes are incredible. Not only on the field, or court, or water, but they’re constantly challenging us and helping us learn about the world and the cool things they’re going to do with their lives.” 

The feeling of appreciation and admiration is mutual from the student athletes. “I always feel welcomed with nothing but smiles from Niki, she makes the ATR a better place, which is helpful since having an injury can be stressful in the first place,” said Lauren Park, a junior on the Fencing team. Rybko also has 19 month old twins who are a hit in the ATR whenever they visit. 

The newest addition to ATR is Autumn Overhiser. She joined Blue Nation this year following a stint at Harvard, where she worked with the Water Polo team. Overhiser was drawn to Wellesley for its focused student athletes, “I feel like student athletes at an academically rigorous institution like this one ask the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ more. They are more actively involved in their care and have perspective.” 

Overhiser also described what the transition was like for her coming from a Division I institution to a Division III institution like Wellesley, citing the greatest challenge being access. An example of this is at her previous institution the X-ray machine was right next to her office, so student athletes could know the severity of their injuries immediately. At Wellesley and other DIII schools alike, advanced care is commonly outsourced and it can take time to get results. Despite the differences between DI and DIII institutions, Overhiser has found her stride and has been a fast favorite in the ATR. “She’s always willing to be asked questions to as she’s taping someone and is great at multitasking. [She] is very supportive and laughs at my jokes,” said Lauren Dines `20 from the Track and Field team.

Sarah Jean Paul could not be reached for comment at this time due to travel with the NCAA tournament bound volleyball team, but Swimming and Diving junior Hannah May had nothing but high praise for Paul saying “Sarah Paul is incredible at fixing people and she always makes me smile, laugh, and also cry just because it hurts in a good way.” Paul, who most recently worked at Florida and Team USA Diving, is in her second year at Wellesley. 

If you’re a club or varsity student athlete, stop by the garden level and pay the ATR a visit. You are sure to leave with a smile on your face and your ankles taped.

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleWellesley softball hosts annual alumnae game
Next articleEat at your own risk: foods to watch out for in the dining halls

You may also like

February Student Athlete of the Month

Athletics Update

Victoria Garrick Speaks on Mental Health

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

Sorry. No data so far.

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2022 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top