Within Oswego State Athletics, there are a number of individuals who take it amongst themselves to support those that compete in a Lakers uniform. From coaching staff to the janitors that help run Laker Hall, there are multiple staff members that are essential to the success of the department.
Two individuals support our athletes to help each person recover from injuries to get them back onto the field, Kevin Joyce and Elise Fitzsimmons are the two athletic trainers on staff for Oswego State Athletics. For most home games and practices, one of them is present to ensure that the athletes are safe if injuries do occur.
The month of March is Athletic Training Appreciation Month which shows appreciation for the efforts done by those individuals that support athletes across the globe. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association has been celebrating this month since 2000.
Fitzsimmons joined the Oswego State staff 10 years ago after completing her college degree at Bowling Green University in Ohio. Fitzsimmons started her career with the Rochester Raiders Arena Football team prior to joining the Lakers. She formed a connection with George Roll, former Oswego State men’s hockey head coach, who passed her name along to Ed Gosek, the current men’s hockey head coach, to join the Lakers staff.
Fitzsimmons worked primarily with the field hockey team in the fall and men’s hockey team in the winter. During the spring, she worked alongside women’s lacrosse, softball and track and field. She has been able to establish positive relationships with plenty of athletes over the years by helping with injuries and rehab which makes the job worth it. Fitzsimmons notes the other things she gets to see from the athletes over the years.
“Seeing my athletes develop from being a scared freshman to a confident senior. Seeing the growth they make whether it be through adversity in regular life or on the field,” Fitzsimmons said. “Watching a student become a difference maker when they were nervous [that] they never were going to play. Just getting to be a part of their lives makes everything worth it.”
Fitzsimmons has made plenty of memories with the Oswego State teams over the years during her time in Oswego and there have been a bunch of moments that stick with her to this day.
“My favorite memory is probably a tie between my first year being in the National Championship game or the Italy trip, both just surreal experiences,” Fitzsimmons said.
Kevin Joyce was hired as the head athletic trainer in August 2019. Joyce has spent time at Post University, Plattsburgh State, SUNY New Paltz and Elmira College prior to joining the Oswego State staff. Joyce is also a member of several athletic training associations.
Joyce is the athletic trainer for women’s soccer and both basketball teams. He also travels with the women’s hockey team in the winter and oversees the men’s lacrosse team in the spring. Joyce has been a part of some special Oswego State moments over the years along with some funny moments from the coaches.
“The game on Mar. 10 for men’s basketball in the NCAA Div. III tournament was an awesome moment,” Joyce said. “The funniest parts are the personalities from the coaches and the things they say. Ed Gosek has great quotes all the time, Mark Digby has his quotes here and there. We have fun in the athletic room and come up with great stuff.”
Fans can tell players are grateful for the work Fitzsimmons and Joyce do for the athletic department and for the athletes in green and gold.
Photos Provided By Kevin Joyce | Oswego State Athletics
