Kate Gready: helping the sports medicine team keep athletes safe!
By Katelyn Fisher
Owasso’s Sports Medicine team has gained a new member this year who has made a great addition to an already great team. Kate Gready graduated from the University of Tulsa back in May and has been working at Owasso, her first job since graduation, for about four months now. She looks forward to doing the job she loves while creating new relationships with her coworkers and student-athletes from all sports.
“I am so blessed to have landed at a place like this,” Gready exclaims, “The culture within the athletic department truly encourages teamwork and camaraderie as we all work toward a common goal.”
Picture of Kate Gready, taken from Owasso Highschool athletics page
Gready and the other athletic trainers are constantly doing whatever it takes to keep our athletes safe and healthy so they can perform at their highest level. Whether it be through stretching, weight lifting or proper dieting, athletes can receive the help necessary to get back to their full strength and remain injury free.
Gready states, “Every day in the athletic training facility, athletes can be found strengthening weak muscles, working to correct their body mechanics and movement patterns and utilizing equipment to help their bodies recover from the demands of their sport.”
A lot of time and effort goes into getting injured athletes recovered and competition ready. Gready believes that rehab is very important as it allows athletes to rebuild muscle and gain coordination that was lost while they were hurt. Without it, athletes will continue to re-injure themselves because their body isn’t ready to handle the strain of their sport.
“When an athlete is injured, our priority is to get them up and moving as soon as it is safe to do so,” Gready explains, “Our rehab programs improve strength, mobility, balance, and coordination training.”
Gready works a lot in rehab with injured athletes, but she also works to prevent these injuries from happening in the first place. She believes that every athlete should have their own wellness routine that revolves around their body's specific needs. She knows that while physical health is essential, mental health is also key in every athlete's career.
Gready emphasizes, “To reduce the risk of injury, student-athletes should develop a wellness routine specific to their body. This routine should encompass all aspects of health.” She goes on to say, “Maintain your mental health through journaling, meditation or whatever works best for you.”
Gready encourages student-athletes to take advantage of the resources available here at Owasso. We have a team of Certified Athletic Trainers, Certified Strength and Conditioning Coaches, and a Registered Dietician who can all aid in injury prevention and recovery.
“The Sports Medicine and Sports Performance Teams are here to help you feel and perform your best!”