Meetings

Please feel free to attend a meeting using the link below. Typically meetings occur one Thursday a month and continue valuable information. For meeting dates and more information please contact the president (information below). 

For Austin meeting links and information email SportsSIG@usa.edu.

Current Leadership

President: Jared Belk

Vice President: Jacob Wetz

Communications Chair: Dylan Keene

Outreach Coordinator: Garrett Young

Founder and President - Steve Rodriguez  SPT, MS, CSCS

s.rodriguez1@usa.edu

Bio: As the Founder and President of this new special interest group it has always been the plan to keep the student’s best interest at heart with the purpose of expanding one’s educational experience by creating relationships and opportunities to learn in the areas of sports physical therapy. In terms of my background, I come from a wide array of work and educational experience. I currently hold a Master’s degree in exercise science and have several certifications under my belt relative to sports and human performance. In addition to this, I’m currently a FLEX DPT student at the Austin campus and have held several leadership roles as part of being an active student outside of class and have co-lead several projects that were designed to provide support to USAHS students. My reputation as a student has been recognized not only by my peers, but also by our institution. In regards to the Sports SIG, it is our aim to assist USAHS students with integrating areas of our education with a closer look into this section of physical therapy and have fun at the same time! We really hope everyone will take part in this journey and we are very pleased to provide this opportunity for fellow students!

Co-Founder and Vice President – Shaun Reghabi SPT, MS, ATC/L, CSCS

s.reghabi@usa.edu

Bio: As the Co-Founder and Vice President of the Sports SIG it has always been my intention to help create an organization where USAHS students can grow through the latest evidence-based research and interdisciplinary networking in the ever-expanding field of sports medicine. My background includes many different experiences in both work and education that are best suited for this SIG. I am a fully certified and licensed athletic trainer in the great state of Texas. Not only did I receive my Master’s degree in athletic training, but am also a residency trained ATC in orthopedic rehabilitation through the Houston Methodist Hospital System. I hold many different certifications ranging from the Institute for Athlete Regeneration Dry Needling (IAR-DN) Cert to the EXOS Performance Specialist (XPS) Cert that help contribute to my well roundedness as a clinician. Currently I am a FLEX DPT student that is also one of many Capital Area District (CAD) Liaison’s based out of our Austin, TX campus. With the forming of this new organization it is our hope that every student at USAHS interested in sports medicine will join and grow with us as future clinicians in this field.

Secretary - Stacey Pirtle SPT, MS

s.pirtle@usa.edu

Bio: Being a part of this up and coming Sports SIG, offered to all campuses, is an exciting new endeavor. My background includes 10 years serving in the U.S. Air Force as a medic/flight medicine. During that time I was an active runner who completed many distance races from 3k to full marathons. Additionally, I coached a youth running team for 2 years as well as captain a women’s running group for 2 years. I received my Bachelor’s in Psychology and Masters in Exercise Science during my service along with maintaining my EMT and First Aid/CPR certifications. I am currently a FLEX DPT student at the Austin campus where I also serve as the student representative for my cohort. I look forward to all the knowledge and experience we will learn and share in this new SIG with all the students in the USAHS family.

Communications Chair - Angela Vizcaino SPT, MS 

a.vizcaino@usa.edu

Bio: As Communications Chair for the Sports SIG, I plan to connect student physical therapists to professionals in the field. To grow into the world of Sports/Performance Physical Therapy, we need to learn from the best. I want the USAHS students to be encouraged, inspired, and educated so they too can create their own journey. As for my background, I have a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and a Masters in Sports Management from Texas Woman’s University. I founded the TWU Pioneer soccer club and coached for the Universities’ running club. I have worked in Cardiac Rehabilitation as an Exercise Physiologist and in a Hospital’s fitness center as a certified personal trainer, group exercise instructor, yoga teacher, and stress management specialist for the last 9 years.  Due to the acute care environment, I am certified in ACLS, BLS, and First Aid. I am also a D-license soccer coach and still a very passionate soccer player. I am currently a Flex DPT student and the Flex SPTA Secretary at the Austin campus. I’m looking forward to spending time with others who are just as passionate about sports medicine as I am. It’s important to develop relationships and lift each other up as we go through this journey. 

Sponsor - Dr. Elise Bjork PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS

ebjork@usa.edu 

Leadership: 

President — Bridgett Sewell

Vice President —Andrew Turk

Secretary: Nicole Tassielli

Community Outreach Coordinator: Kendra Pooler

Education Coordinator — Evan Henke

Flex Liaison: Nadine Kaloyios

OT Liaison: Ireland Jarvis

Leadership: 

Ian Williams (i.williams1@usa.edu), President

Thomas Smith, Vice President

Schnyder Lubin, Treasurer

Christian Gonzalez, Secretary

Alissa Anderson, Activities Chair

John Cruz, Event Coordinator

Faculty Sponsor, Jonathan Bray

Jonathan Del Rosario

President: Jonathan Del Rosario

J.Delrosario@usa.edu

As the president of the Sports SIG of the Dallas campus, I look forward to promoting diversity throughout our campus and creating opportunities to grow this group. I am grateful for this opportunity to work with my officers to inspire others and build future relationships with our sponsors and faculty. I grew up playing soccer and running cross country and track in high school, which sparked an interest in exercise and human movement. I attained my bachelor's degree in exercise science from the University of Texas at Arlington. During my undergrad, I found out about physical therapy during my internship at an outpatient clinic. I had the opportunity to work with patients of all ages, guiding them along their rehab journey from start to finish. This is where I found my passion for Physical Therapy because I found the process of restoring people's health back to prior levels of function fulfilling. As a physical therapy technician for 4 years, I worked in outpatient orthopedics and sports with young athletes. In my free time, I enjoy powerlifting and running to keep my body healthy and moving. I am excited to lead this organization to inspire others and make a positive impact in the sports community.

Vice President: Calvin Kunu, SPT

C.Kunu@usa.edu

I graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos with a B.Ed. in Exercise and Sports Science. My passion for sports physical therapy and medicine began as an athlete. As a former basketball player and track and field athlete, I interacted frequently with athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, and physical therapists. After PT school, I plan on getting my CSCS certification as part of my continuing education.

My goal as Vice President is to help build a strong and active community of SPTs who are passionate about sports physical therapy. I want to help connect students with professionals in the field, and share knowledge through workshops and seminars. I would like to support any projects that boost the growth and acknowledgment of sports PT in our organization.

Treasurer: Bria Jones, SPT, MS, L/ATC, CEASIII

B.Jones12@usa.edu

I’m Bria Jones, and will hold the position as Treasurer of the Sports SIG at the Dallas Campus. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where I overcame a personal hurdle by returning stronger after tearing my ACL—an experience that fueled my commitment to the field of physical therapy. Post graduation, I moved to Florida where I completed my Master’s degree in Athletic Training. 

As a certified Athletic Trainer and former intern for the Tennessee Titans, I bring a unique blend of personal resilience and professional expertise to our community. Prior to becoming a student at USA, I worked as an Injury Prevention Specialist at Amazon, navigating the realms of the industrial setting and ergonomics.

As Treasurer, I’m most excited about fostering a dynamic and inclusive community. I look forward to creating opportunities for connection, learning, and collective growth. 

Secretary: Anthony Nguyen, SPT

A.Nguyen15@usa.edu

As the Secretary of the Dallas Sports SIG, I am responsible for coordinating communication efforts, organizing meetings, and ensuring the group operates efficiently. I am a dedicated advocate for sports and physical activity. My passion stems from my extensive sports background growing up. Being involved in sports such as Taekwondo, tennis, ultimate frisbee, and basketball, I’ve witnessed numerous sport related injuries. This sparked my interest in sports rehabilitation. I graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Studies and a minor in Exercise Science. My experience with athletes includes over three years of volunteering and working at various outpatient clinics. Not only did I have the opportunity to work with elite athletes, but I also learned about the innovative interventions to treat diagnosis such as ACL reconstruction. There is nothing more rewarding than helping someone return to their normal function, if not stronger. I look forward to sharing my passion for sports rehabilitation, and I am driven to advance the goals of the Dallas Sports SIG. With my desire to make a positive impact, I am motivated to organize exciting events for the coming year.

Community Outreach: Michelle Chai, SPT

M.Chai@usa.edu

Growing up I participated in many sports like basketball and volleyball but I found my passion in powerlifting and dragonboat. I went to Thailand in 2019 to compete on Team USA in the Under 24 division for dragonboat and in 2021 I held a California state record for Bench Press in the Junior Women’s division. I graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor in Kinesiology with emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy. I also worked as a personal trainer for 5 years and was able to greatly broaden my knowledge on the health effects of exercise on the human body.

As the Community Outreach Coordinator, I will be dedicated to creating opportunities for students to engage in various networking events with clinicians and professionals in the sports realm. I would like to expand our knowledge and understanding of physical therapy with a focus on treating various types of athletes. My background as an athlete has made me eager to take this opportunity to learn more about injury prevention and optimal performance in high level sports.

Katie Coast, President--SPT

As president of the San Marcos Sports SIG, it is my goal to provide a space for students across all of St. Augustine’s campuses to learn and grow from some of the leaders in sports rehabilitation today. I started playing softball at an early age and played competitively throughout my life until I decided not to play in college due to a series of concussions. However, physical fitness has always been important to me, and I quickly became interested in resistance training, pilates, and tennis. I enjoy bringing friends and family to exercise with me and have found that sports play an integral role in bringing people together throughout the lifespan. I went on to receive an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from the University of Arizona and have a special interest in concussions in sports. I believe that sports rehabilitation encompasses any clinician who treats an athlete, and it is important to familiarize ourselves with all aspects of physical therapy that an athlete may require. I look forward to bringing a wide variety of clinicians with experience in treating athletes to share their expertise and help us all become well-rounded clinicians.

Brandon Joyce, Vice President--SPT, CSCS

Having been a three-sport athlete in high school and collegiate football player, sports have influenced and shaped my mindset. Upon graduating from St. Olaf College with a degree in Exercise Science, I became a personal trainer and took an athletic approach to helping people improve their fitness levels. Integrating athletic style training into programs gave clients an opportunity to explore their physical capabilities in new, rewarding ways. I believe that everyone has athletic potential, and different sports are merely windows to go through to explore movement. I believe that physical therapy for athletes transcends sports and can be implemented into all arenas of physical therapy. As the Sports SIG Vice President, I look forward to learning from leaders in the Sports PT field, as well as helping to facilitate a valuable learning experience for all SPTs.

Lizzy Moyer, Communications Coordinator--SPT

I am looking forward to being a part of the sports SIG here in San Marcos because of all the growth opportunities it will provide from the sports community and various sports professionals. I grew up playing outside from dawn to dusk: neighborhood games, soccer, tetherball, basketball, hiking, and anything outdoors to keep me moving. My main passion, however, is soccer, and I have also love surfing since being near waves. I received my Bachelor's in Kinesiology from Point Loma Nazarene University here in San Diego. While there, I founded and captained the Women's Futbol Club where we were able to play tournaments and games through the West Coast Soccer Association in various states. I take this passion with me everywhere I go. In 2019, I was exploring possible graduate career options and took a volunteer position in Ecuador for Public Health and traditional medicinal healing. While I was there, I noticed how natural it was for me to bring people together through sport, soccer specifically. I now currently coach youth girls in soccer, the sport that has taught me so much about life and joy. It would be a dream one day to both start a soccer non-profit and a clinic where it is partially outdoors and I can rehab my patients alongside them doing their recreational activities. Currently, I enjoy surfing, playing music, traveling, dancing, laughing with my nephews and, of course, playing soccer with various adult teams. I am in my 2^nd year of the DPT Flex program at the San Marcos Campus. Serving alongside this group of fellow classmates motivates me to recruit professionals with cutting edge research and various backgrounds to share their knowledge and ideas with the students of St. Augustine. I also look forward to making advances on campus to help promote sports PT and our sports SIG.

Sam Potts, Treasurer--SPT, RBT

As Treasurer/Secretary of the San Marcos Sports SIG, I am very excited to help students gain knowledge in the field of sports rehabilitation. I was a three-sport varsity athlete in high school playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse and that passion for sports has followed me all through adulthood. I attended The Pennsylvania State Univeristy as an undergraduate student, where I was the Strength and Conditioning Manager for the Women's Lacrosse Team. I was in charge of the Catapult System, the world leader in sports technology, which tracks players’ heart rates, distance traveled, etc. to observe athletes' fitness levels. Another passion of mine is volunteering with Special Olympics, where I have coached fitness classes for the Special Olympics of New Jersey and helped organize the annual Summer Games for the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. I was a Physical Therapy Aide at RWJ Sports Physical Therapy for 3 years and am currently a Registered Behavioral Technician for children with autism. I am very eager to bring together other students throughout all USA campuses to discuss the importance of proper rehabilitation in the athletic and active population.  

Faculty Advisor- Heather Disney, PT, DPT, MTC, OCS. hdisney@usa.edu