The people of New Ulm can’t get enough of spring sports, but without our athletic trainers, the spring wouldn’t be very fun for the athletes.

“Coming into the season, the athletes should be somewhat in shape and physically fit to avoid any early nagging injuries,” said athletic trainer Marcus Hopp. 

The New Ulm Medical Center’s Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Team provides the New Ulm High School with an athletic trainer for a large fee and gives Allina Health naming rights to the gymnasium.

Marcus Hopp has been the athletic trainer at NUHS for many years and has many years of experience during the spring sports season. 

“Overall, during the spring sports season, I treat a lot of shoulder injuries from softball and baseball. This is why there are restrictions for athletes, mainly in baseball, during the spring that they have to follow. Another common injury I treat is shin splints, primarily from track. They are very difficult to treat, heal very slowly, and are considered chronic injuries,” Marcus said. 

Spring sports are seriously a special time of year where the weather gets warmer, and people make their way down to the ball field or to a track meet. The teams are getting stronger along the way, and the athletic trainers are also building bonds with the athletes.

Briana Sieve, an Athletic trainer who also coaches with the NU softball program, said: “I like getting to know the person personally and seeing people recover from the bottom and seeing them succeed. Coaching also helps me keep my passion and keeps me motivated, coaching for a winning program like Eagles Softball.”