Behind every successful sports team are the athletic training professionals who help players stay healthy and perform at their peak.

At Temple Ambler, trainer Travis McCormack supports 70 athletes on the men’s and women’s soccer, softball and baseball teams. He is the first line of defense in helping athletes quickly return to competition following an injury, providing a range of treatments that includes icing, stretching, heat therapy and massage.

“We're out here first,” said McCormack. “We're on the field every day with our athletes. We see the injury occur most of the time and so we're a first responder who makes a decision as to the care they need.”

But McCormack says the job of keeping athletes healthy begins before they even take the field.

“Our biggest role is trying to prevent injuries,” said McCormack. “We work very closely with our coaches, our strength and conditioning staff to make sure that we have a good conditioning program for them, that we're keeping them healthy.”

Although the hours can be long, McCormick is motivated by a love for sports, and the desire to help young athletes compete at the next level.

“I absolutely love what I do,” he said, “being out here on the field, being on the sidelines for games and being that person who helps somebody achieve what they're after.”