Celebrating the HaysMed Athletic Trainers Who Keep Western Kansas Athletes Safe
March is National Athletic Trainers Month, a time to recognize the essential role athletic trainers play in promoting safety, performance, and wellbeing for athletes at every level. At HaysMed, our athletic trainers are valued members of our healthcare community providing emergency response, injury prevention, treatment, and recovery support for student‑athletes across western Kansas.
Athletic trainers are multi‑skilled healthcare professionals, trained in prevention, examination, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports‑related injuries and medical conditions. Their work begins long before athletes take the field and continues long after the final whistle.
HaysMed is proud to provide athletic training coverage for multiple area schools:
- Ellis High School – Athletic Trainer: Shawn Landers
- Victoria High School – Athletic Trainer: Shawn Landers
- Hays High School – Athletic Trainer: Dylan Moore
- Hays Larks (summer season) – Athletic Trainer: Dylan Moore
- Thomas More Prep‑Marian Jr./Sr. High School – Athletic Trainer: Joshua Walker
- La Crosse High School – Athletic Trainer: Joshua Walker
In addition to school partnerships, HaysMed athletic trainers also support statewide Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) events throughout the year, including wrestling, football, basketball, and cross country championships.
HaysMed athletic trainers are an essential part of HaysMed’s comprehensive rehabilitation program, which includes both in‑patient and out‑patient rehab services. Working closely with our physical and occupational therapists, they support recovery for ACL repairs, post‑surgical athletes, and many other orthopedic and sports‑related conditions. Their involvement helps ensure continuity of care, guiding athletes from initial injury assessment through safe, effective rehabilitation and return to play.
Connecting Athletes to HaysMed Sports Medicine Experts
Athletes who require additional evaluation or specialized treatment have direct access to the HaysMed Sports Medicine team, including:
- Dr. Kelly Moeder, Family Medicine and Sports Medicine
- Dr. Adam Wait, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Dr. Wally Walstrom, Sports Medicine
Dr. Walstrom also serves as the team physician for Fort Hays State University Athletics, leading a team of 13 athletic trainers and overseeing the health and safety of FHSU student‑athletes. This partnership allows for seamless coordination of care, from on‑field assessment to clinical or surgical intervention when needed.
During National Athletic Trainers Month, and every month, we extend our sincere thanks to the HaysMed Athletic Training team for the skill, care, and compassion they bring to our community.
