2015-16 PBC Yearbook | Page 91

symposium on Thursday in Augusta. Head athletic trainer Matt Daniel along with Katelyn Huggins, Frances Gilbert and Julie Savage were on hand to accept the award. The award is voted on by the Peach Belt Conference head athletic trainers. The UNG athletic training department offers a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation program using state-of-the-art equipment and procedures. Additionally, the program provides a quality academic and clinical education program for individuals pursuing a career in the athletic training profession. UNG is coming off a very successful 2015-16 season. In addition to providing medical coverage for its 12 intercollegiate athletic programs, the UNG athletic training staff served as hosts for the NCAA softball regional and super-regionals along with several big on-campus events including a live Make-A-Wish reveal. The UNG athletic training staff consists of head athletic trainer Matt Daniel along with assistant Frances Gilbert and graduate assistants Julie Savage and Allyson Prior. The staff also oversees approximately 30 athletic training students and works with Dr. John Vachtsevanos of Specialty Clinics of Georgia Orthopedics, PC. This is the first athletic training staff of the year award for North Georgia. tant athletic director for Sports Media Bob Stoner was on hand to receive the award. Stoner and his staff of sports media specialist Rixon Lane, video specialist Justin Burger, photographer Dylan Seely and statistician and writer David Hays provided exemplary coverage of the Bearcats’ 11 intercollegiate sports which included live video coverage of over 100 events on campus last year, a dramatic increase in social media reach and management of landerbearcats.com which saw over 1 million visits during the course of the year. “On behalf of Lander University, I am very appreciative of receiving this award, especially since it was voted on by my peers in the PBC,” said Stoner. “We made a special effort this year to improve our play-by-play, and social media efforts through Rixon Lane, our video stream and marketing efforts through Justin Burger, Dylan Seely’s photographs and the writing of David Hays. I have always felt blessed to have the support of Lander Athletic Director Jeff May when it comes to being able to hire the necessary student workers and part-timers to properly staff our events.” The sports information staff was front and center as Lander won the PBC men’s and women’s basketball tournament championships on the same day and provided comprehensive coverage of the baseball team’s victory at the NCAA Southeast Regional and subsequent trip to the Division II World Series. Stoner, who has served at Lander for the last 28 years, will retire this summer. 2 5 Y E A R S Lander University Named PBC Sports Information Staff of the Year AUGUSTA, GA – The Lander University sports media office was named the 2015-16 PBC Sports Information Staff of the Year at the league’s annual workshop in Augusta. Assis- 89