14 FEATURE
PART OF THE TEAM
Volleyball trainer Aimee Miyazawa works extra hours and waits on the sidelines to help players when they need it most.
By Zach Getz
zgetz@kansan.com
With her small frame and sweet smile you wouldn't believe that Aimee Miyazawa could have a stern side. But when working with athletes, the athletic trainer for the Kansas volleyball team has developed a no-nonsense approach to her work.
"She doesn't tolerate any whining," says senior middle blocker Brittany Williams.
While you may not see her among
emergency care, injury prevention and rehab," Miyazawa says.
Miyazawa also preps players before practice and overlooks the practices. Even though she may work an 11- or 12-hour day, she says she doesn't go home until every player gets what she needs.
"If we need treatment after practice she's always there," says junior outside hitter Karina Garlington. "She'll wait here until 8 o'clock at night to help us out."
Miyazawa, who is now in her fifth
"She's like the team mom. She takes care of everything that we could possibly ask of her." Karina Garlington, Kansas outside hitter
all the 6-foot-2 volleyball players, Miyazawa is always stalking on the sidelines and plays an important role behind the scenes of the team.
"I'm responsible for all the medical care for the athletes including
Photos by Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Karina Garlington, above left, and Brittany Williams, left, both say Miyazawa is more to the team than a trainer; she's a friend as well. Miyazawa helped rehabilitate Williams after she tore her ACL.
season as volleyball trainer for Kansas, got her start after being indecisive about her future during her senior year in high school. She started assisting her high school trainer in Lakeview, Colo., and her career took off from there.
THE WAVE SEPTEMBER 18,2009
After getting her masters in physical education at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Miyazawa went on to take a fellowship with the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN