It was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time for Jason Viel, MS, LAT, ATC.
A simple introduction to bettering lives, becoming involved in a high school student athletic trainer program, would be a life-changing decision.
Today, three decades later, Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Director of Athletic Training Services and athletic trainer at Bettendorf, Iowa’s Pleasant Valley High School, says a simple “yes,’’ changed his life.
“I was lucky enough to have a student athletic trainer program at my high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan,’’ said the ever-dedicated Viel, who, in his decorated, two–plus decade athletic training career, has served as president and secretary of the Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society and as a board member for the Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA).
In his 15th year at Pleasant Valley, Viel also serves as the MAATA Secondary Schools Athletic Trainers’ Committee Chair (SSATC), and is one of several athletic trainers nationwide entrusted with assisting in state and national athletic-training policy.
As IATS secretary and president, Viel helped lead the charge to update Iowa’s state’s youth concussion laws and bring to life the “Rural Healthcare Recruitment Program,’’ which allows athletic trainers to receive up to $50,000 in student loan repayment if they work in rural Iowa for a four-year period and have a local entity give matching funds for the program.
“Our (high school) athletic trainer, Jerry Weises, started a student program before I was in high school,’’ Viel said. “My sophomore year, he mentioned something about signing up for the class and program for my junior year. I thought at that time, I was going to become an electrical engineer. My dad was a master electrician and I would help him when he would go to friends’ houses to do some residential electrical work on the weekends. But, after being exposed to athletic training my junior year of high school, I just knew this is what I wanted to do.’’
A gifted soccer player, Viel said another decision – away from the family norm – would also shape his career.
“I went on two college visits my junior year of high school,’’ Viel said. “I went to Hope College (Holland, Mich). My parents went to Hope and we would go for football and basketball games growing up, so I assumed I would go there. However, I got a flier in the mail from Central College (Pella, Iowa) and my grandma lived in Grinnell (Iowa) at the time, so we decided to take a visit to Central while we were going to visit my grandma.’’
As soon as he stepped on the Central campus, Viel he knew it was the place for him
“After meeting with John Roslien, Athletic Training Program Director, and then meeting with the men’s soccer coach, it solidified me going to Central,’’ Viel said. “Central was a great match for me, as I could still compete and play soccer while doing everything I needed to finish the athletic training program. John instilled in all athletic training students the idea of volunteerism and giving back to the profession. That and the relationships I made while at Central and as an alum of the Central athletic training program, led to me getting involved with the profession at the state, district and national level.’’
In the world of athletic training, there is nothing “typical.’’ There are constants, but treating and guiding athletes each day is far from mundane. Routines aside, every day brings a different set of welcome challenges for Viel.
“Each day is different and that keeps you on your toes,’’ Viel said. “Also getting to work with athletes who are starting their athletic careers is unique. You deal with every type of athlete from the kid who is new to sport or athletics in general, to the elite athlete who is going on to play high-level Division 1 athletics. You have to tailor everything you do to each individual. Sure, some rehab stuff stays the same, but everyone is different in how they respond to injury and the healing process.’’
To administration, coaches, parents and athletes at Pleasant Valley High School, Viel is far more than just the school’s head athletic trainer.
He is one of them, family on all fronts.
“Jason is a vital, integral part of our team and our PV family,’’ said Rusty VanWetzinga, head varsity football coach for Pleasant Valley High School. “He is a member of our staff and hugely important to what we are trying to accomplish. I can only speak for football, but I know the feeling is the same with all our programs in that we could not do what we do without Jason. We have great faith in everything he does. He has the trust of everyone.’’
Viel feels the same about all that is Pleasant Valley High School.
“All of the PV coaches and administrators are great to work with and I have been able to establish great working relationships with them,’’ Viel said. “They understand my role and we understand each other as well. It is great having the support from coaches and administration. We truly do work together for the betterment of the athletes at PV. It is a great place to be.’’
The PV family has also embraced Viel’s wife, Carrie, the Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Cascade High School, and his sons, Connor and Cody.
“Those (established PV relationships) allow me to be able to get away to watch my kids’ events,’’ said Viel. “We live in DeWitt (Iowa) so it is hard sometimes to get away to watch when my boys compete, but the PV staff is amazing and all I have to do is communicate with the coaches, administration and administration and athletes. It truly is a family.’’
Viel’s Rock Valley family also plays a positive, caring and compassionate role in all he does day-to-day.
“Being part of a company that truly gets what it means to treat patients is amazing,’’ Viel said. “Rock Valley is committed to getting all of our athletes at all of the schools we serve back to competition in the safest and quickest way possible. That can be by letting the athletic trainers at our schools use their skills to return that athlete back or it can be a combination of treating the athlete at the school with the athletic trainer and in the clinic with a physical therapist. It is a true interdisciplinary approach to athlete care.’’
Right choice, right time. Wonderful career.
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller