- Bacon and eggs.
- Salt and pepper.
- A sunset hovering ever-so carefully above a body of water.
- A hand resting comfortably inside an artfully crafted glove.
- Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Jessica Rummery, MS, LAT, ATC, and Bettendorf High School.
All perfect fits.
“I needed something that was fast paced, allowed me to move around physically, and gave me hands-on tasks,’’ said Rummery, the athletic trainer at Bettendorf, Iowa-based Bettendorf High School, noting why she chose the career path she selected.
“Ultimately, I enjoy helping people and seeing them do what they love; this career was the perfect combination of all the above,’’ added the always-upbeat and compassionate Rummery, who in nine years at Bettendorf has earned the Mid America Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA D5) Young Professional Distinction Award and was named the Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society’s Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year.
The Rummery-Rock Valley-Bettendorf union is a winning combination.
“Let’s just say she is my MVP in terms of athletic training services,’’ Eric Knudson, MS LAT ATC, NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer, Health, and Sports Medicine Teacher at Bettendorf High School, said of Rummery.
“Bettendorf has a rich tradition of providing one of the best if not the best high school athletic training rooms and programs in the state of Iowa,’’ said Knudson, one of the most respected athletic trainers in the state. “Over the last 25 years, Bettendorf High School has had a tremendous amount of success, and the athletic training room has been a huge part of that success. When Jessica came on board, we were looking for a young, energetic, and knowledgeable ATC that would help carry us into the future, and that is exactly what we got. She has surpassed my expectations as an ATC.’’
Rummery said she was elated to join the Rock Valley Physical Therapy family, lauding its approach to great care, its dedication to “Making Better Lives,’’ and a never-ending desire to better every community it serves.
“Rock Valley ticked all the boxes for me,’ said Rummery, who earned her undergraduate degree in athletic training from Texas State University and a Master’s of Kinesiology with emphasis in Athletic Training from Illinois State University. “I work with athletes and active populations. No day is ever the same as before, and I get to help people do what they love. I have a true passion for this profession and the people who make it up.’’
Rummery, in a step to help grow the profession, was recently elected president-elect of the Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society. She will take office in April 2024.
“Being president elect of the Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society is an honor,’’ she said. “I am abundantly thankful my peers and colleagues have trusted me with this role. My aim is to bring athletic trainers together to expand professional networks of individuals and advance the athletic training profession in Iowa. We have room to grow as a profession and I’m excited to be part of it.’’
Jason Viel, MS, LAT, ATC, Director of Athletic Training Services for Rock Valley Physical Therapy, says Rummery is not only special for her everyday gifts – her upbeat attitude and care for her student-athletes – but her willingness to go beyond for the betterment of the athletic training world.
“Jessica has amazing leadership qualities,’’ Viel said. “I have seen her grow in her confidence both as an AT and as a leader. I look forward to what Jess has in store for our state association. She has a great passion for our field, for making sure that all voices are heard and that we continue to move forward.‘’
Time management, for anyone, is never easy. Faith, family, work and making a difference in the lives of student athletes take time. With the help of many, Rummery has found a way to make each day work through care, compassion, and a tremendous sense of understanding.
Everything, Rummery says, begins at home
“I appreciate my family – especially my husband’s support,’’ added Rummery, who in April of 2023, served as an athletic trainer for American Football Worldwide, who in accordance with Rock Valley Physical Therapy, took Rummery on a once-in-a-lifetime journey. She spent a week in Italy providing athletic training services for a team of American football players that competed against an Italian national squad.
Though the outside world rarely gets an up-close glimpse into the inner workings of an athletic trainer, Rummery – like all in her world – will tell you each brings great reward.
“I’ve been able to listen to athletes during tough moments, have meaningful conversations, cheer them on, and at the end of the day hopefully make a difference,’’ Rummery said of her work with Bettendorf student-athletes, all while singing the praises of Bettendorf colleagues, Craig Wainwright, and Knudson.
The two, Rummery says, have advocated for – and supported – her before and during her time at Bettendorf.
“As I am nearing the halfway mark of my ninth season, I have been given one of the coolest seats in the house; the seat that allows me to watch these young people grow and develop into amazing human beings,” Rummery said. “I do certainly love this community and I hope to continue to be an influence for good in the lives of other people and continue to advance a profession I love so much. ‘’
Zach Shay, the athletic director at Bettendorf High School, says Rummery is a tremendous asset to all that is BHS.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Jessica for the past 3 1/2 years,’’ said Shay. “I consider her one of the most respected, self-driven, hardworking, and dedicated professionals I have been around in my 24 years of athletics. Jessica understands the multifaceted aspects of being a high school athletic trainer by managing the student- athletes’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This type of mindset is what sets Jessica apart from others. She is an exceptional asset to Bettendorf Athletics.’’
Rummery and Bettendorf High School: A perfect fit.
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller