Athletic Training - Student Profile - Marcus Maust

Marcus tapes a baseball player's ankle before practice.

Marcus Maust
Sophomore, Athletic Training
Bay Port, Mich.

What drew you to Hesston College?
The opportunity to play soccer and Hesston's Christ-centered campus and warm "home-like" appeal.

How challenging are the academics at Hesston?
They are challenging enough to challenge you but not overwhelm you.

What is your favorite Athletic Training course?
Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries has been the best so far because it gave me a taste of everything that goes on from taping to evaluating an injury.

What are the professors like in your program?
They are all very good and have good teaching abilities and experience in the "real world." Clay Stauffer, the college's head athletic trainer, has been a certified athletic trainer (ATC) for more than five years. Christy Hancock (did/does she help here) is an assistant at Tabor certified for two years.

Which people at Hesston have helped you grow the most?
Daniel Martin was a student here my freshman year and I connected with him the most with our love for soccer, hard work, and Christ. He helped me establish myself and reminded me of who I really am.

Did you find opportunities for learning experiences outside the classroom?
Yes, in everything you do there is something that you can learn. In my experiences beyond the classroom I have learned how to communicate with athletes and people in general on many levels, find and use my talents to benefit myself and others, and find opportunities to stretch myself and put myself out of the box to learn more and gain more exposure.

When did you first know you wanted to be an Athletic Trainer?
I first found that I wanted to go into Athletic Training when I tore a muscle in my leg and had to be in the training room every day for a good portion of my freshman soccer season. You'd think I would be sick of it, but instead I took an interest in it.

How have your experiences at Hesston shaped you as a future trainer?
It has gotten me involved right into the sports scene of injuries, evaluating and interacting with athletes, and other things that students at even NAIA schools would not have the chance to do.

What are your plans for after Hesston?
I plan to attend Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) and continue both my athletic training and soccer careers. Then I hope to become a paramedic and either work for a high school district or out of a physical therapy clinic as acting ATC (certified athletic trainer).