MANSFIELD – Kayla Wright is returning to the Mansfield University Athletic Training Staff as the Assistant Athletic Trainer, Director of Athletics Peggy Carl announced on Monday, Aug. 23.
 
"We're so excited to have Kayla re-join the Mountie family," Carl said. "In her short time during the spring semester of 2020, she was able to make a huge impact on our student-athletes, so much so they were very excited to learn that Kayla would be our new Athletic Trainer.  Kayla's abilities both as a diagnostician and as a clinician will go a long way toward serving our student-athletes in the very best way possible."
 
Wright will work alongside 24-year Mountaineer Athletic Trainer Brian Oakes to provide athletic training and sports medicine services to all 13 athletic programs.
 
Wright joins the Mountaineers from nearby Canton High School where she spent the past year as the Head Athletic Trainer of the Warriors as part of UPMC's Sports Medicine Outreach Athletic Trainer program.
 
Wright completed her full-immersion internship at Mansfield in 2020 where she worked full-time with three certified athletic trainers to evaluate, diagnose and treat athletes on the women's soccer, cross country, track and field, field hockey, sprint football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball and softball teams.
 
"Kayla did an excellent job during her time at Mansfield as an intern and we can't wait for her to get started." 24-year Athletic Trainer Brian Oakes added. "She will be a perfect fit."
 
She completed her bachelor of science in exercise science at Bloomsburg University in 2018 before receiving her master's of science in athletic training from Lock Haven University in 2020.
 
While at LHU, Wright completed her clinical rotation by providing coverage of the Bald Eagle baseball and cross country teams and Williamsport Area High School football team. During that time, she also worked with the LHU rehabilitation center.
 
Wright has been a member of the Pennsylvania, National and Eastern Athletic Training Association since 2019.
 
Long-time Head Athletic Trainer Laurie Zaparzynski retired in May.