It was news that shocked WVU Tech soccer player, Mikaylah Maddio. Under West Virginia law, her athletic trainers were not required to be licensed or have ownership of a permit. Maddio said athletic trainers are just as important as other medical professionals and should be properly educated.

“I think that being an athlete myself, I know that if I even have a wear and tear on my body, I would want to know exactly what was wrong with it. I would want them to be educated to be able to tell me so I can better educate myself,“ Maddio said.

Governor Justice recently signed Senate Bill 60, which amends and adds to previous law that athletic trainers must be licensed or hold an athletic training permit in order to practice in the state. For WVU Tech Athletic Trainer, James Dearien, it is important to be educated. He said he has a responsibility to properly care for every athlete who walks through his door.

“The simplest thing is that when an athlete gets injured, I’m the first person that they see, and I’m also the last person that they see when they go out on the field. My satisfaction is seeing that athlete go out on the field to play,“ Dearien said.

Dearien also said athletic training is a very specific field to study and every trainer should go through the proper certification. His education is helping athletes, like Mikaylah, build trust in the athletic program at WVU Tech.

“The trainers here have helped me throughout the whole course of my season and I know that them being certified not only helps them, but our athletes here at WVU Tech,“ Maddio said.

Senate Bill 60 requires that anyone looking to be an athletic trainer in West Virginia pass the certification exam and any necessary background checks.