| Room to grow
A super-sized sweatshirt is just the right fit for a student’s dream and a professional’s passion
By Casey Christy ’92, M’03
 joined the athletic training education program at Glassboro State College a month or so after the annual clothing order took place. As a student, such items were a big deal to your sense of belonging. T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and hats—all sporting the GSC athletic training logo—had already been handed out. So wanting to fit in, I asked if there were any leftovers.
Head athletic trainer Chuck Whedon rustled
through his office and found a box with one
lonely, yellow sweatshirt. He tossed it over to me, though my excitement waned as I peeked at the tag and discovered it was two sizes too big. It really didn’t matter, though, I was just glad to get a shirt—any shirt. Besides, I figured I’d grow
into it, both physically and academically.
I proudly wore that oversized sweatshirt at least once a week. I also remember the day I “discovered” my major. As a freshman, I really wasn’t too focused on a specific career path. But on that day—a cold February afternoon—I spotted a young lady walking in front of Esby Gym. She wore a brown coat with big, yellow letters on the back that read “Glassboro State Athletic Training.” After I asked about her jacket and her major, she took me to the gym basement—to the “athletic training room.” I walked into that cramped, little facility and it immediately caught my interest. It was filled with students and athletes—with barely enough space to fit two or three treatment tables. I saw injured athletes rehabbing their damaged parts, exercise machines, whirlpools and lots of shelves loaded with tape, ointments and wraps. Standing in the middle of it all, Chuck Whedon was deep in conversation with an injured athlete. He took a few moments to shake my hand and made me feel welcome. As he proudly explained what his program was all about, I could see in his eyes he truly loved his profession. And his passion was contagious.
My interest solidified shortly thereafter when I suffered a rotator cuff injury while playing for the GSC baseball team. “Mr. Whedon” helped me through all of that, both physically and mentally. After seeing how he helped countless injured athletes, including me, return to the sports they love, I was now certain which career I would choose.
I knew I had a lot to learn in the coming years about anatomy and physiology and about caring for sports injuries and handling emergencies. And I was excited to find a course of study that would allow me to truly enjoy learning. And as time passed, I grew to love it what I was doing as much as he Chuck Whedon does.
Since graduation, the relationship between Chuck and me has gone through a slow, yet gratifying, transition from teacher-student, to colleagues, and even friends. We now sit on the same side of the table at various meetings as representatives of the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey, pursuing legislative changes to better our profession. I’m so thankful to have met him so long ago. His passion influenced my career choice. And now that career helps me provide for my family. For that, I’m most grateful.
Today, that sweatshirt remains in my drawer as one of my most treasured pieces of clothing. And though it now has some paint stains, a few small holes and a stretched-out waistband, it’s one of the most comfortable shirts I own. And I guess I’ve grown into it too, in more ways than one. 
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Casey Christy has been an athletic trainer at Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees since 1994 and is active in the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey, serving as president from 2005-2007. He resides in Haddon Heights with his wife Shelley ’93 and their children, Tyler and Myranda, and can be reached at caseychristyatc@comcast.net |
