Room for Improvement
In his 22nd year at York College, Chad Karcher is as steady as they come in the Panther Athletic Department. A certified athletic trainer and instructor, Karcher has seen YC athletics grow from around 150 student-athletes in 1999 to more than 350 in 2020. The wrestling programs alone have added 60+ athletes, all of whom at one time or another will more than likely require the services of the Panther athletic training staff. Karcher has wrapped hundreds of knees, taped even more ankles, and has had ample share of caring for, treating, and rehabilitating a vast variety of other athletic injuries and ailments. When asked to estimate how many rolls of tape he has gone through at YC, he laughed and said, "I get that question often, and can never really give a clear-cut answer." However, being a guru for organization, and with his known diligence for record keeping and attention to detail, he added, "Let me get back to you on that in a day or two and I should be able to give you a number that's pretty close." The world of athletic training goes far beyond what meets the eye. Recognizing and evaluating athletic injuries is an art and science in and of itself. Ensuring a proper diagnosis or including appropriate further medical referral when necessary, is an integral aspect of the business that can have long-term implications. Educating and being that liaison to the athletes, coaches, parents, faculty/administration, and medical community are also necessity. "We as a department have built a great working relationship with the York General Hospital Physical Therapy Dept., York Medical Clinic, and the orthopods of the Lincoln Orthopedic Center who serve their specialty clinic," Karcher commented, "This has been paramount in assuring quality medical attention for the athletes of YC." For Karcher, sharing this invaluable expertise surpasses the “9-5” job description. “Chad's service here extends beyond student-athletes,” said Jared Stark, vice-president for enrollment and athletics. “Alumni still contact him today looking for his thoughts on an injury. He has been more than willing to treat anyone from campus even faculty and staff. He responds to anyone at York College who has a question, and he is happy to do it.” Jordan (Veness ’12) Irsik, an adjunct chemistry instructor at YC and head women's soccer coach at College of Saint Mary, was an athlete and student trainer under Karcher. "Chad is one of the best athletic trainers I’ve ever gotten to work with," said Irsik. "He gives student-athletes a top level experience with Irsik
(above) Tapings such as the one above on Susie Traver's ankle are recorded on YouTube to help instruct the athletic training staff. To view, go to ycpanthers.com/Athletic_Training and click on Karch's Taping Techniques.
