During his first semester, Parde faced a defining moment in Anatomy & Physiology I. After receiving a failing grade on his first major exam, he found himself at a crossroads.

鈥淚n that moment, I had to decide if following the medical career path was really what I wanted to do,鈥� Parde said. 鈥淚 wondered if I was really cut out for chiropractic school if I couldn鈥檛 pass my first anatomy test.鈥�

Rather than turning away from his goals, Parde leaned into the support system that drew him to 糖心传媒 in the first place. He began meeting almost daily with Dr. Brie Myre, assistant professor of biology. Together, they reviewed previous lessons and prepared for upcoming quizzes and practicals. The personalized attention paid off: Parde turned his grade around, finishing the course with an A.

鈥淭his isn’t something I could鈥檝e done without the help of Dr. Myre and the student-to-faculty ratio here,鈥� he noted.

Parde has since maintained a stellar 3.85 GPA while balancing a heavy course load that included chemistry, kinesiology, anatomy & physiology, and research methods and statistics. His academic dedication is matched by his involvement on campus.

A recipient of both athletic and academic scholarships 鈥� including the Trinity United Methodist and Ruth and Darrell Berg Scholarships 鈥� Parde spent two years as a tight end for the Bronco football team, earning recognition as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

His favorite athletic memory? 鈥淏eating Midland my freshman year and taking back the trophy,鈥� he said.

Beyond the football field, Parde has served the campus community as a resident assistant and served as the head RA. He also worked part-time in the sports department at the YMCA, supervising youth programs. During breaks, he gains hands-on experience in his future field by working at Kepler Family Chiropractic, as well as Hillcrest Country Club.

As he approached graduation, Parde looked back fondly on the relationships he built, particularly the collaborative experience of completing his senior capstone research project with classmate Brock Buresh titled 鈥淎cute effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation versus static stretching on range of motion in healthy adults.鈥�

Parde caught the attention of the faculty from the start.

鈥淐arson was a student who came in with a plan, and executed it to perfection,鈥� said Casey Molifua, senior lecturer in the Physical Education and Human Performance Department. 鈥淏eyond his academics, he鈥檚 a student who engages with not only his coursework but with the student body as a whole. He was a joy to have in class and although we will miss him, we know he will do great things!鈥�

When asked why he chose 糖心传媒, Parde said it was the smaller class size and the opportunity for career growth. 鈥淚鈥檝e been blessed with long-lasting relationships with teammates, peers and professors that have prepared me for what鈥檚 next,鈥� he said.

Parde鈥檚 next chapter will take him to Davenport, Iowa, to attend Palmer College of Chiropractic in the fall.

By Dr. Matthew Beeler, associate professor of exercise science

Branson came to 糖心传媒 from Lawrence, Kansas, where she excelled at school and on the volleyball court 鈥� and is involved in as many aspects of campus life as someone could possibly be.

She鈥檚 a member of multiple groups on campus, including Bronco Move; Alpha Chi, the collegiate honors society; and Psi Chi, the psychology national honors society. Branson said she works so hard in order to prepare herself for a career as a counselor in clinical mental health counseling. She plans to attend West Virginia University for her master鈥檚 degree in the fall.

She holds a 4.0 GPA and was recently named 糖心传媒 female scholar athlete of the year, where she was a three-year starter for the volleyball team.

The accolades don鈥檛 stop there. She attended 糖心传媒 on the Ringland Scholarship where she is a dual major in and psychology with a minor in strength and conditioning. During her time on campus, she earned Dean鈥檚 List four straight years, was named an NAIA scholar-athlete and received CoSIDA academic all district honors.

Branson also has a talent for academic research.

She recently completed two senior capstone projects centering around the impact of coaching feedback on women鈥檚 confidence and sports performance. She credits her advisors, Dr. Rachael Robinson-Keilig, associate professor of psychology, and Casey Krolikowksi, assistant professor of exercise science, for helping her navigate the rigours of college and for being support structures for her to lean on.

She said the unique community at 糖心传媒 also helped her learn and grow.

鈥淚 love the community. As someone who didn鈥檛 grow up in Nebraska, 糖心传媒 has a community like no other,鈥� Branson said. 鈥淣ot only do you meet many students from different backgrounds and form close friendships with, but the faculty here are supportive and welcoming and care about you and work with you to help you achieve your goals.鈥�

Branson has continually impressed the faculty with her dedication and focus, as well as her constant bright presence on campus, Krolikowksi said.

鈥淪he embodies the growth, ethics and mindset we hope to foster here at the College and we wish her the best as she ventures into the world as a 糖心传媒 graduate,鈥� she said.

By Dr. Matthew Beeler, assistant professor of exercise science

In what could be described as an athletic trainer鈥檚 dream job, exercise science graduate Julyah Wilson 鈥�22 interned this past summer with the New England Patriots, the NFL team that dazzled fans during the Brady-Belichick era, won a record six Super Bowl titles and continues to sell out every home game.

Wilson, a former Bronco track athlete, earned her master鈥檚 degree in May 2024 from the University of Nebraska Omaha, which holds two places each year in the graduate athletic training program for 糖心传媒 students who meet admissions criteria.

The two-year program focuses on training techniques, orthopedic assessment and therapeutic interventions.

For one of her required clinical rotations, Wilson interned with the University of Alabama football team, an experience that planted the seeds for the Patriots鈥� offer.

鈥淚 did well at Alabama and built a great connection,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淥ne of the athletic trainers I worked with is now with the Patriots. He reached out to me and asked if I was interested in a paid summer internship. Of course, I said yes.鈥�

Before heading east, Wilson passed her board of certification exam to become a certified athletic trainer.

This story originally appeared in the 2024 HC Today.

A summer at Gillette Stadium

The Patriots put Wilson up in an extended-stay hotel in Wrentham, about 10 minutes from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Arriving at the stadium鈥檚 athletic training room at 6 a.m. each day, she treated rookie and veteran players for ankle injuries, quad strains, sore backs and other ailments and helped with stretching and hip mobility exercises.

After treatments, the players practiced on two different fields in the hot summer sun. Wilson and her colleagues swarmed like bees during breaks in the play to hand out water and Gatorade. After team meetings, she headed back to the athletic training room to treat more players.

The NFL experience didn鈥檛 intimidate Wilson, who also completed practicums with Bellevue West and Papillion LaVista High Schools in Nebraska, Iowa Western Community College and Creighton University鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball team in Omaha. Working for the pros did require greater awareness and focus.

鈥淣FL teams are way more fast paced. You have to keep your head more on a swivel than you would for a college or high school team. And there鈥檚 definitely more hands on deck, people on the staff. Earlier days, longer hours and different kinds of treatment strategies,鈥� she said.

While interacting with players in the athletic training room, Wilson found them cordial and friendly. Her contacts included veteran players like safety Jabrill Peppers and defensive end Deatrich Wise and rookies like Marcellas Dial, a recruit from the University of South Carolina.

Wilson remained with the team until the 鈥渃ut down date鈥� in late August when NFL teams trim their preseason teams from 90 to 53.

Learning the fundamentals at HC

A number of factors contributed to Wilson鈥檚 decisions to major in exercise science and become an athletic trainer. As a high school athlete in Aurora, Colorado, she was injured and had shoulder surgery, an experience that piqued her interest in therapy and recovery. She was intrigued by an anatomy class her senior year.

鈥淭hose things just played together to make me want to be an athletic trainer,鈥� she said.

Recruited as a sprinter on 糖心传媒鈥檚 track team, she qualified for nationals four consecutive years, was named All Conference and All American, and was GPAC champion in the 200m, 100m and 60m dashes. A dean鈥檚 list student, she was named to Who鈥檚 Who in 2022 in recognition of her contributions to the campus community.

Wilson counts among her inspirations 糖心传媒 faculty Casey Molifua and Dr. Matthew Beeler from the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance, which offers the popular exercise science major. This academic year, exercise science is one of the largest majors on campus among returning, full-time undergraduates, second only to business administration.

鈥淏eeler introduced me to the UNO Athletic Training Program. Casey was aware of what I wanted to do and helped me find the path to take. They both guided me on what to do next and were very helpful,鈥� she said.

Wilson recently landed a job as assistant athletic trainer for women鈥檚 soccer and softball and men鈥檚 wrestling at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln.

鈥淚 can relate to athletes since I also competed in sports and had injuries,鈥� she said. 鈥淎thletic trainers are people athletes can talk to outside of their coaches and parents. We鈥檙e people they can trust. I find that very fulfilling. The athletic training room is a healing place, mentally and physically.鈥�

By Judee Konen 鈥�85

His goal was 鈥� and is as he looks to graduation and a master鈥檚 degree biomechanics 鈥� to help athletes succeed and improve just like the pitching evaluation that helped him grow as an athlete.

The exercise science major from Missouri Valley, Iowa, found out about the Pitching Lab during the 2021 College World Series. The lab had a booth setup, and after a visit, Fichter was hooked, and soon scheduled a visit so he could tour the facility and lab.

Fichter said he developed a strong interest in biomechanics during his sophomore year as a pitcher on the 糖心传媒 baseball team. Biomechanics is the movement, force and mechanics of an athlete’s pitch or swing, and the lab aims to help athletes with knowledge and understanding of how their movement affects their health and performance.

Using high-speed cameras and sensors, the lab captures the pitch or swing of baseball and softball players, or the swing of a golfer.

After an evaluation, the Pitching Lab鈥檚 experts provide detailed analysis that can be used to develop a training program targeted at addressing each athlete鈥檚 specific needs.

After his visit, he suggested to his 糖心传媒 coach that the team should visit the Pitching Lab for practice and winter evaluation. His coach agreed.

鈥淚鈥檓 glad I mentioned the lab to my coach. He thought it would be a good practice experience for the pitchers and for the team overall,鈥� he said.

Fichter was especially interested in all it takes to make the lab work 鈥� how the camera and computer helps the biomechanists share how the athlete鈥檚 form looked and what needs to be corrected.

Fueled by curiosity, Fichter reached out to Brian Knarr, the lead biomechanist of the Pitching Lab. He wanted to keep in contact with Knarr to ask questions and learn more about the program. Soon after, Fichter reached back out to Knarr and asked about internship opportunities.

鈥淚 think what really helped me secure the internship was the fact I was in constant contact with Brian Knarr. It helped a lot in the process, so I am grateful I stayed in touch,鈥� Fichter said.

In addition to his regular internship duties, he took time to shadow some of the master鈥檚 program students at UNO as they would break down the data from a session, then consult and offer feedback to the athletes about their results.

鈥淪itting in on these consultations is rewarding, especially seeing the players and coaches receive feedback from the biomechanist based on the results from the study. Seeing the player taking the feedback and wanting to improve after further evaluation is even better,鈥� he said.

Fichter said that without the resources at 糖心传媒, he wouldn鈥檛 have gotten the internship.

He credits exercise science professor Casey Krolikowski 鈥�19 with helping him secure the internship by giving him a reference and encouragement to push forward. He also appreciated his former baseball coach, Patrick Williamson 鈥�16, for accepting Fichter’s idea to take the team to the pitching lab to get evaluated.

After graduation, Fichter said plans to attend the University of Nebraska Omaha for a master’s degree in biomechanics and then work in a movement or biomechanics lab where he can help athletes succeed.

By Cecilia Velarde, a senior marketing and communication studies double major from Loveland, Colorado.

Anderson transferred to 糖心传媒 from Central Community College (CCC) as an agricultural science major. However, she knew her real calling was working with people in healthcare, in part because she faced several major challenges on her way to becoming a standout student.

After graduating from CCC in 2019, her father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin鈥檚 lymphoma. Anderson spent two years helping keep the family farm running, working a part-time job and keeping her dad company during chemotherapy. It was at these appointments where she observed how impactful healthcare providers can be in people鈥檚 lives.

She decided to combine her love for sports with her desire to impact lives and chose exercise science and physical therapy as her future careers and enrolled at 糖心传媒 in 2021.

She did not waste any time when she chose 糖心传媒. Anderson received the Bobby Gottsch Difference Maker Scholarship and a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, as well as making the Dean鈥檚 List four times. She鈥檚 also been a volunteer Special Olympics coach in powerlifting since the spring of 2023.

In addition, Anderson works at Children鈥檚 Rehab Center and Balance and Mobility in Hastings as a rehabilitation tech. Through her volunteering, work opportunities and her stellar performance as a student, Anderson was accepted at College of Saint Mary in Omaha to begin her doctoral studies in physical therapy this summer.

When Anderson is not being a standout student, helping others or helping on the family farm in Minden, Nebraska, she is an avid pickleball player and runner. Her most memorable moments at 糖心传媒 have been creating new friendships and spending time learning in the classroom with her classmates.

She came to 糖心传媒 鈥渂ecause of the opportunities available and the smaller class sizes. The professors at 糖心传媒 care about you as a student in their classrooms and as an individual outside of the classroom,鈥� she said.

Anderson is a testament to what is possible when you dedicate yourself and work tirelessly towards a goal.

When asked about coming to 糖心传媒, Anderson said, 鈥淚 am very happy with the decision I made for myself; I have never looked back and I have acquired a great deal of confidence in myself.鈥�

Her professors said they delight in having her in the classroom and agree that Anderson will do great things in her career.

鈥淚t has been inspiring to witness Alyse’s remarkable journey of personal growth,鈥� said Casey Molifua, a senior lecturer of Physical Education & Human Performance at 糖心传媒. 鈥淪he has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity, and I am confident that this resilient mindset will serve as a catalyst for her ongoing growth in all facets of life.鈥�

By Dr. Matthew Beeler, assistant professor of exercise science

鈥淧hysical therapy has always been something I envisioned doing. It enhanced more once I got to 糖心传媒 and started taking the courses that supported physical therapy,鈥� said Simonsen, who is majoring in exercise science.

Opportunities dating back to his senior year of high school, Simonsen has continuously sought to expand his knowledge in physical therapy.

In 2021, a 糖心传媒 professor connected him to an opportunity where he shadowed more than 70 hours for Mark Johnson at PTSR for a year. Simonsen continued to shadow in 2022 until last winter when Johnson offered him an internship.

鈥淎lthough I鈥檓 an aide and have limited duties like helping patients with warm-ups or getting heat or ice packs, PTSR has a supportive environment,鈥� Simonsen said.

PTSR鈥檚 cohesive, family-like environment helped Simonsen recognize he was on the right path 鈥� and grew his excitement to become a licensed physical therapist.

鈥淢y dream is to open an athletic training facility that coexists with a physical therapy center. Strength and conditioning is another passion of mine, I believe a service that will allow athletes to train and get treatment at the same facility could change the game of athletes’ health,鈥� Simonsen said.

Simonsen said he plans to apply for physical therapy programs at Baylor University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and continue to work for PTSR until he graduates in December.

By Cecilia Velarde, a junior marketing and communication studies double major from Loveland, Colorado

Her teammates would say she鈥檚 accomplished that.

Hansen, a senior exercise science major from Council Bluffs, Iowa, also focused more on off the field activities and became dedicated to volunteering, providing service to the College and community, and academic excellence.

Starting in 2021, she鈥檚 been the student director for Food4Thought, a non-profit program that provides meals to elementary school students in Hastings public schools.聽 She also takes the opportunity to give back to the campus by working concessions, taking tickets and running the scoreboard for athletic events.

Hansen, who is minoring in psychology and general science, has a penchant for academics. Although her humble nature will lead her to say that she is nothing special in the classroom, her record and her professors would speak otherwise.

She鈥檚 the recipient of a Tom McLaughlin Scholarship and Ringland Scholarship. In addition, she garnered NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards in 2022 and 2023, along with being a member of Psi Chi, the psychology honors society. Her effort in the classroom paired with her work as a rehabilitation technician at Mary Lanning Healthcare helped land her a spot at College of Saint Mary to pursue her doctorate in physical therapy starting in the fall.

Hansen said 鈥渢he close relationships with staff and professors鈥nd continuous support that lead to success鈥� helped her become confident in her abilities. Though she was unsure about her ability to reach graduate school when she arrived on campus, through her hard work and that support from professors, she achieved her goal.

As she wraps up her senior year, Hansen is focused on completing her senior exercise science project in the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance. She and her classmate and teammate Natasha Keen are investigating the impact of dehydration on muscle soreness after a vigorous weight lifting session.

By Dr. Matthew Beeler, assistant professor of exercise science

The 糖心传媒 Physical Education and Human Performance Department is filled with a diverse group of talented students 鈥� and Helena Jorgenson from Gothenburg, Nebraska, is one such student.

A senior majoring in exercise science and minoring in art, Jorgenson has continuously excelled and impressed the faculty at 糖心传媒. Throughout her high school career she was a prolific athlete competing in golf, softball, basketball and track and field.

Jorgenson has made the most of her college years. She鈥檚 a recipient of the Hewitt Academic Scholarship in addition to a Visual Arts Scholarship. Jorgenson is an active volunteer in groups across campus, volunteering for Local Global and the Student United Way. She is also a member of the Chi Omega Psi sorority.

Jorgenson isn鈥檛 all business, though. In her free time, she is a ravenous reader and currently devouring the entire Harry Potter fiction series.

鈥淚 love knowing who everyone is, feeling like one big campus family,鈥� said Jorgenson, who transferred to 糖心传媒 from the University of Nebraska鈥揕incoln. 鈥淚 love walking from class to class and knowing everyone I see on the way. When I get to class, it feels like my little family is on campus. I love that I went from classes of 300 to 25 here at 糖心传媒. This drew me to this campus.鈥�

She has excelled academically at 糖心传媒. Her academic success, along with her strong science background and her fantastic volunteer work, landed her a spot at Cleveland University-Kansas City, where she will pursue her Doctor of Chiropractic degree starting in the fall of 2022.

For her senior capstone project at 糖心传媒, she鈥檚 assessing the differences in low back pain between men and women on campus. She hopes to determine if there is a difference in recovery time from low back pain between men and women.
Jorgenson said that her favorite part about being in the exercise science department is the community. 鈥淵ou get to meet so many wonderful people. I love getting to know my professors and my peers, and it feels like my second family,鈥� she said.

By Dr. Matthew Beeler, assistant professor of exercise science

For as long as she’s lived, she鈥檚 played every sport. So it was no surprise that Ally Ginkens 鈥�20 would leave her hometown of Mullen, Nebraska, to go on and double major in exercise science and recreation & sport management at 糖心传媒.

Soon, four years had passed and Ginkens had to make some life decisions.

鈥淚 had searched for physical therapy schools and even considered being an assistant, but I didn鈥檛 have a good feeling about any of the places,鈥� Ginkens said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 until my strength and conditioning coach (Brett Wells) approached me with an offer to work as a graduate assistant at 糖心传媒 did my perspective begin to shift.鈥�

Initially, Ginkens wasn鈥檛 so keen on the idea of sticking around Hastings. The more she pondered though, she recognized that being a graduate assistant at 糖心传媒 was an opportunity that she couldn鈥檛 reject, so she accepted the offer and spent the next 18 months working with different Broncos teams.

Little did she know, saying yes that one time would put her in position for the next opportunity: being named assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Kansas 鈥� an offer she also accepted and began in October of 2021.

鈥淭here鈥檚 so many people that have laid bricks that have granted me this opportunity. For instance, we had a past graduate assistant who interned at Creighton University, and because he did such an amazing job I was allowed to do the same. It was my athletic performance internship at Creighton that put me over the top for this job at the University of Kansas,鈥� she said.

Ginkens said during this time, she had made the decision to be more intentional about saying yes. 鈥淚f we wait until we鈥檙e ready, we鈥檒l be waiting the rest of our lives,鈥� she said.

Her primary responsibilities at KU include leading in the development and implementation of strength conditioning programs for the women鈥檚 tennis, women鈥檚 golf and women鈥檚 rowing teams.

Ginkens noted that while resources are greater in her new role, the job doesn’t change.

鈥淧eople envision that the work is so different, however, I鈥檓 still training athletes to become better athletes,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hether NAIA or Division 1, my job is to positively impact student athletes the way that I鈥檝e been impacted.鈥�

Over time, Ginkens has developed a number of skills. She is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), has passed the United States of America Weightlifting (USAW) Level 1 course and is both CPR and AED certified. She has experience coaching in basketball, volleyball, shotgun, football, tennis, golf and rowing teams.

鈥淭here are so many pieces to the puzzle that built my success story. My professors, my coach, peers. Some people see coaching and teaching as two different entities,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s been cool to see things that I’ve learned in the classroom implemented in my coaching.鈥�

When asked what motivates her to succeed in the workplace she said many of her opportunities were because there was someone before me who was great at what they did.

鈥淚 want to continuously fulfill my purpose of positively impacting student athletes,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want them to love what they do and enjoy doing it.鈥�

By Kiant茅 Stuart, a junior from Nassau, The Bahamas, majoring in communications studies, business administration and marketing.

On Monday mornings at 5:00 a.m. most people are fast asleep, getting their last few hours of rest before starting another week of work. Human Performance coaches, however, are not most people. Also referred to under the title of 鈥淪trength & Conditioning,鈥� Human Performance coaches most days are the first ones into the building and the last to leave 鈥� sometimes by choice, but most of the time because of facility limitations and scheduling conflicts.

It is a young, energetic profession traditionally fueled by meat-heads and macho-men alike. Oftentimes, the Human Performance coach takes on various roles that stretch far beyond the scope of the weight room, such as being a motivational speaker, mentor and therapist for athletes.

On any given day, if someone had the opportunity to visit every collegiate weight room in the state of Nebraska, the athletic weight room in 糖心传媒鈥檚 Lynn Farrell Arena would stand out 鈥� not because of its equipment or the athletes that lift there, but because of the Broncos鈥� Human Performance staff.

Currently in the state of Nebraska there are only five female collegiate Human Performance coaches 鈥� and three coach at 糖心传媒. Their names are Shandra Farmer ’20, Ally Ginkens ’20 and Cassidy Dyhrkopp, and all second-year graduate assistants with the Broncos working with Brett Wells, the director of Human Performance and 2019 NSCA Nebraska Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year.

A fourth female Strength & Conditioning coach in Nebraska, Laura Buttermore, is an assistant coach with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Before UNO, Buttermore coached from 2012 to 2018 in the weight room at 糖心传媒. This means 80 percent of the female collegiate strength coaches in the state of Nebraska have coached at 糖心传媒 in the last three years.

Hooked on Human Performance

Ginkens, who majored in Exercise Science and Recreation & Sport Management, played volleyball at 糖心传媒 and was a member of the 2016 National Championship squad. The former team captain became interested in Human Performance when she first started working out in the Broncos鈥� weight room and began to see improvements in the performance of her teammates and herself.

鈥淲hen I came to Hastings it was very obvious which freshmen had experience in the weight room and came from a high school that had a strength coach because they were progressing so much faster than players like me who had to start our progress from the ground up due to our technique being wrong from never having anybody to coach us on that before college,鈥� Ginkens explained. 鈥淚 was watching all my teammates making huge strides forward, while I was moving backward. So when I adjusted to the technique and began to see huge improvements I got hooked on human performance and what it could do for myself and others.鈥�

Ginkens made the weight room her home when right before her senior season she received the news that former Broncos head volleyball coach Matt Buttermore was moving on to become the head volleyball coach at UNO.

鈥淎s a senior the last thing you want to do is start over and it felt like everything we knew had been erased,鈥� Ginkens said. 鈥淚t was a new culture, new lifestyle, new everything with a new coach and I just really found a home in the weight room where that culture remained the same despite everything in my world that was changing. It held everyone to a high standard and that was really what I clung to. It was a great place for me to exemplify leadership and hard work because it was something that I knew. It was familiar in a time where everything was changing.鈥�

This sense of belonging and drive to become better inspired Ginkens to become a graduate assistant of Human Performance at 糖心传媒 where she now coaches women鈥檚 basketball, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis, shotgun sports and football in the weight room.

Finding another path

Farmer is also a Bronco alumni and decorated graduate of the 糖心传媒 women鈥檚 basketball team. As an athlete, Farmer received many honors on the court, including being named First-Team All-Conference her junior and senior years, and as a senior she was named First-Team All-American, the Great Plains Athletic Conference Player of the Year and the Omaha World Herald鈥檚 Midland Co-Female Athlete of the Year in addition to being a team captain.

Farmer, who studied business administration and human resource management as an undergrad, never considered the possibility of coaching until questions about her future in athletics became a consistent theme during her senior season.

鈥淚 had planned to earn a Masters of Business Administration somewhere else, get a business job and use my degree,鈥� Farmer said. 鈥淏ut my senior year, after having a really successful season, I had been approached by multiple people about the possibility of coaching. So it got me thinking that if other people are seeing me as a good leader and having a way of being able to speak to people and help them out, maybe I do need to stay around sports. So this opportunity came up with coach Wells and the Human Performance staff and I took it right away.鈥�

In order to receive the foundational knowledge needed to coach Human Performance, Farmer set out to preparing for the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), and got enrolled in the United States of America Weightlifting (USAW) Level 1 coaching course with Ginkens and Dyhrkopp.

She now coaches the Broncos鈥� softball, men鈥檚 basketball and football teams in the weight room while attending University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) to earn an MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources. Her dream is to utilize the combination of her coaching experience and business background to become an athletic director or other form of administrator within an athletic department so she can make the most of her education and stay around sports.

Unlike Ginkens and Farmer, Dyhrkopp did not attend 糖心传媒 as an undergraduate, but joined the Broncos鈥� Human Performance staff after coming highly recommended by her strength and conditioning coaches at UNK, where she ran track as a sprinter and competed in the long jump and triple jump events.

Dyhrkopp became highly involved in the Lopers鈥� weight room after seeing the positive results that strength and conditioning had on her performance as an athlete.

鈥淚n high school, I never really had a strength program. We just had the football coach who taught weights class,鈥� Dyhrkopp said. 鈥淪o when I got to college I had the best strength coaches I鈥檝e ever had and actually saw myself improve in my sport and just life in general. That鈥檚 when it really clicked for me mentally about how much that relationship with the strength coach makes a difference and how much you can accomplish when you buy-in to what they鈥檙e doing.鈥�

Dyhrkopp currently coaches the Broncos鈥� volleyball, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 wrestling and football teams in the weight room. Her goal is to be a Human Performance coach, either at the collegiate level or in the private sector working with athletes. She has even entertained the idea of owning her own performance center one day.

Building relationships, growing confidence

When asked about what their favorite part of coaching is, Ginkens, Farmer and Dyhrkopp immediately came to a consensus: relationships.

鈥淥ne of my favorite things is creating relationships, not just with my athletes but all the athletes in general and just getting to know them more than just as a player or as an athlete,鈥� Dyhrkopp said. 鈥淕etting to build those relationships and watch them progress is so meaningful.鈥�

Farmer added, 鈥淚 just love having the connections and interactions every single day with other people. Being able to see the athletes and be around people who love playing their sport and want to be there; it鈥檚 amazing.鈥�

But as great of a profession as coaching is, these grad assistants still experience plenty of struggle in their day-to-day coaching activities.

Ginkens pointed out that confidence is one of the most important attributes of being a coach, but it鈥檚 a trait that doesn鈥檛 come easy.

鈥淛ust as a young coach, you get questioned a lot,鈥� Ginkens said. 鈥淟ike, if I was five years older people would not even question things, but since I鈥檓 a young coach I feel questioned a lot about what I鈥檓 doing. So that can have an effect on developing confidence, because if you鈥檙e always being questioned about what you鈥檙e doing, you start to question yourself.鈥�

For Dyhrkopp, her biggest struggle has been coming face to face with the realization that coaching is a lot more than just X鈥檚 and O鈥檚 and having lots of sports knowledge.

鈥淲hen I first became a coach I thought the hardest part would be programming workouts and those other things that I didn鈥檛 have any experience doing, which of course was difficult at first,鈥� Dyhrkopp said. 鈥淏ut what I didn鈥檛 expect was having to coach more than just technique; things like effort, body language and culture. When you become a college coach, nobody tells you that you鈥檙e going to spend most of your time coaching and managing attitude and effort. I assumed college athletes already had those things taken care of, but I learned differently very quickly.鈥�

Dealing with stereotypes

On top of developing their identities as coaches, these women have also dealt with facing the stereotypes and assumptions that come with being females working in a male-dominated industry.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a struggle dealing with the social media influencer stereotype,鈥� Ginkens said. 鈥淧eople think females in the fitness industry are only there to teach people how to develop their glutes and come up with all these 10-minute band workouts and things like that. People just don鈥檛 see females actually coaching athletic teams.鈥�

Farmer said personal trainers and social media influencers have their place and do a lot of good. 鈥淏ut when that is the majority of what people see from females in the industry it just becomes much harder to be taken seriously when coaching with the goal of athletic performance,鈥� she said.

They attribute these stereotypes to a large-scale issue in the realm of Human Performance by sharing: part of the problem is that the field is just over-saturated with unqualified people who are portrayed as personal trainers or specialists.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a huge reason why we鈥檙e seen as different in this setting,鈥� Dyhrkopp said. 鈥淏ecause us as females have also portrayed ourselves this way. We have to get people to see that we can be the smart, sport scientist style of coach as well, not just the model or social media influencer.鈥�

Despite the challenges, these coaches have taken an active role in battling biases and assumptions by proving their merit through their own coaching demonstrations and personal workouts.

鈥淧eople can doubt our weight room abilities because we鈥檙e female, but it鈥檚 always funny when the athletes see us doing advanced weightlifting movements and get surprised at how good we are at them,鈥� said Ginkens.

鈥淚 always think it鈥檚 funny when our athletes or other coaches walk by the weight room and see us working out and lifting heavy, then all of a sudden we get a lot more credibility,鈥� Farmer said. 鈥淲e are no longer seen as girls who are just there to clean up the weight room after sessions. But, it鈥檚 not until they see that we know what we鈥檙e doing when we finally get that response and respect.鈥�

They鈥檝e also seen these biases and assumptions leave the weight room and leak into professional interactions.

鈥淥ne struggle I鈥檝e specifically had is male coaches being nervous about working around a female every day. I鈥檝e had guys feel that they don鈥檛 want me around because of ideas like 鈥榶ou shouldn鈥檛 cuss around a female鈥�,鈥� Farmer said. 鈥淧eople are raised to respect women and that is a great thing. However, when the ideology that men need to act or talk differently around females creates more barriers for women in the workplace, it becomes an issue that should be discussed. That鈥檚 just how it鈥檚 been for so long and if we don鈥檛 talk about it, it becomes this systemic cycle.鈥�

On the opposite end of things, Gingens said she鈥檚 struggled with coaches specifically hiring someone because they are female.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like 鈥� no 鈥� I want to be the absolute best candidate you have, not the best female candidate you have,鈥� Gingens said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to be hired because I鈥檓 a female. It鈥檚 just something I鈥檝e struggled with. When I apply for jobs I鈥檓 starting to question: are you hiring me because you actually like my work ethic and what I have to offer as a coach? Or is it because I鈥檓 a female and I have some good qualities, but mainly it鈥檚 because you need to hire a female? I just want to be the best for the position.鈥�

Building a better profession

Despite the struggle, these women are working through it, hoping to create a better coaching profession and advance the field of Human Performance through their efforts.

鈥淧eople always talk about how this industry is male-dominated and you never really see females in it,鈥� said Farmer. 鈥淭he phrase I always come back to is 鈥榠f not us, then who?鈥� If females don鈥檛 start doing this job, then we won鈥檛 progress or get anywhere in it. We are starting to see more females get into the industry. The change is starting to be made and it鈥檚 pretty cool that we get to be a part of it.鈥�

Dyhrkopp said she fully embraces her role as a Human Performance coach and has complete pride in what she鈥檚 doing.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just out here making moves for everyone else,鈥� Dyhrkopp said. 鈥淣ow that I鈥檝e taken the step to be a female Human Performance coach, whenever I鈥檓 looking at jobs or internship opportunities I always look to see if they have female coaches. That鈥檚 something that is just so awesome. And if you look around, you do start to see more and more females in coaching and that is just so cool.

鈥淭he positives we get are the same positives as any other coach who is benefiting their athletes. We鈥檙e here to do the same thing as them. But the added positive of it is that we鈥檙e helping to pave the way for other females in the future. However, we strive for the same things as any other strength coach.鈥�

Ginkens said she believes the whole industry itself is making a big change.

鈥淎 strength coach in 10 years is no longer going to be portrayed as this huge meat-head, screaming and yelling at athletes,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I think part of this change is females making their way into the industry. And I鈥檓 glad we鈥檙e going to be a part of it. If we keep going in the right direction it鈥檚 just a matter of time before having a female strength coach isn鈥檛 special, it鈥檚 just normal.鈥�

When asked what advice she would give to other females who dream about working in Human Performance, Ginkens said 鈥淕o for it. It鈥檚 not going to be easy and you鈥檙e going to have to be tough. But just go for it.鈥�

Farmer鈥檚 advice is to trust yourself.

鈥淜now who you are and what you want to do, and don鈥檛 let people who don鈥檛 agree with it or don鈥檛 like you make you doubt yourself,鈥� she said. 鈥淒o qualified work by growing through critique and disagreement, but don鈥檛 let it break you completely. Take the opportunity to put yourself in positions that you normally wouldn鈥檛, so when your opportunity does come you鈥檙e ready for it.鈥�

Farmer, Dyhrkopp and Ginkens have elevated the 糖心传媒 Human Performance program above any previous level. They bring intelligent work, accountability, vulnerability and goodwill to an athletic department that consistently reaps the benefits of their intentional efforts. Every day these women are working toward building a better world of athletics, and hope to spark the minds of others who wish to do the same.

By graduate assistant Cole Fisher 鈥�19