Sports Medicine
Strength & Conditioning | Human Performance Lab | Athletic Training | Sports Nutrition Services | USAF TSOMPT Fellowship
The vision of the Sports Medicine Division is to be one of the top Sports Medicine Programs in the country. The primary mission of the division is to provide the safest, most effective, and efficient sports medicine services to the cadet population involved in intercollegiate, intramural, physical education and fitness training/testing activities. We strive to achieve this mission through four basic goals:
1. Provide and supervise the highest quality strength and conditioning programs for all cadets involved in intercollegiate athletics while directly supporting physical education, and fitness training and testing activities.
2. Select, procure, inspect, maintain, and distribute the safest and highest quality equipment and supplies needed by all cadets involved in intercollegiate athletics.
3. Evaluate, educate, and train intercollegiate athletes, cadets, and coaches with the most effective techniques to improve athletic performance using current exercise physiology, biomechanics, and sport vision enhancement principles.
4. Prevent, evaluate, treat, and rehabilitate injuries incurred by cadets while participating in physical education classes, intramurals, fitness testing activities and intercollegiate sports conducted by the Department of Athletics through the use of state-of-the-art athletic training procedures and modalities.
BRANCHES: The Sports Medicine Division is composed of three main branches: Athletic Training, Strength and Conditioning, and the Human Performance Lab. Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, Mr. Cory Middel, oversees the division.
1. Athletic Training Branch: Mr. Anthony “Tony” Peck is the Head Athletic Trainer. The athletic training staff includes 21 board certified athletic trainers with 21 post-graduate degrees among its staff members. The staff provides athletic training services to all of the Academy's 29 NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports. The Athletic Training Branch facilities include four state-of-the-art athletic training rooms whose locations include the James I Conboy ATR in the Falcon Athletic Center, the Cadet Gymnasium ATR, the Cadet Field House ATR and the recently renovated Falcon Stadium ATR.
2. Strength and Conditioning Branch: Mr. Buck Blackwood is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. Coach Blackwood is assisted by Drew Bodette, Kim Pinske, MSgt Tyler Speck, Taylor Lorbiecki, Will Quillman, Brad Raines, and Bryce Taylor. Strength and Conditioning provides support of the USAF Academy's 29 intercollegiate athletic teams. The Falcon Athletic Center and Cadet Gym intercollegiate weight rooms are some of the finest in the nation with state-of-the-art equipment, running areas, and setups unique to the Academy.
10th MEDICAL GROUP SUPPORT:
The professionals in the Sports Medicine Division provide the day-to-day sports medicine services required by our cadet athletes, but they receive outstanding support and assistance from the medical professionals assigned to the 10th Medical Group. Departments of the 10th Medical Group provide this assistance on a regular basis above and beyond their normal duty requirements and frequently during their off-duty time. The services they provide include orthopedics, radiology, emergency medicine, preventative medicine, obstetrics & gynecology, physical therapy, dentistry and the cadet clinic. Many other medical specialties such as neurology and dermatology among others aid in evaluation and consultation as well. Our group of “Team Doctors” operate under the direction of the Chief of Sports Medicine, Dr. (Col) Marcus Alexander and Head Team Physician, Dr. (LtCol) R. Judd Robins. They include Dr (LtCol) Ross Schumer, Dr. (LtCol) Jeff Belisle, Dr. (Col) Evan Jones, Dr. (Maj) Michael Argyle, Dr. (Maj) Bridgett Caulkins, Dr. (Capt) Ryan Bart, and Dr. (Maj) Travis Dekker. The responsibility of being a team physician requires extensive time and effort on their part. The teamwork between the Sports Medicine Division and the 10th Medical Group is a key ingredient in the extremely high level of sports medicine services available to Academy cadets and athletes. This teamwork between the professional staff in both the Sports Medicine Division and the 10th Medical Group makes the Sports Medicine Program at the USAF Academy one of the best in the nation.
