ARKADELPHIA – As a part of National Athletic Training Month, Ouachita Baptist University is taking a moment to recognize and show appreciation to its three full-time staff members that cater to the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses of approximately 500 Tiger student-athletes.

Head Athletic Trainer Ashleigh Harris has been on staff at Ouachita since the fall of 2017, when she was originally hired as an assistant athletic trainer. She was elevated to head athletic trainer in 2020. Although she has worked with all 18 of Ouachita's athletic teams during her tenure, she primarily works with football, baseball, basketball, and softball.

"There is no way we could do what we do without Ashleigh and her staff with the professionalism and dedication they bring day in and day out," said Ouachita Football Coach Todd Knight. "There is an aspect to athletic training that not a lot of people think about, and that's the mental side of it. Ashleigh really thrives in that area in such an amazing supporting role, and not just for our players, but for our coaching staff as well. She's 100 percent bought in to what we have going on, and that makes a huge difference."

Assistant Athletic Trainer Casey Johnson is in her second year on staff at Ouachita. Like Harris, she and the rest of the athletic training staff works with all Ouachita teams, but her primary sports are volleyball, swimming & diving, and tennis.

"Casey has gone above and beyond in the care of our team," said Ouachita Volleyball Coach Allison Frizzell-Kizer. "She keeps the physical and mental well-being of our athletes a top priority. We are thankful to have such a knowledgeable and attentive athletic trainer."

Assistant Athletic Trainer Will Hanna has been on staff at Ouachita for just over a year, but has much longer ties to the university. The 2017 Ouachita graduate primarily works with cross country, track & field, soccer, and wrestling.

"Will has been great," said Ouachita Women's Soccer Coach Kevin Wright. "It's always wonderful when the athletic training staff fully immerses themselves into your program. Will has done a good job building relationships with our staff as well as our players. He is a big part of our team, and we appreciate all of his efforts in taking care of us."