By Ivan Ponce
Kara Molnar’s lifetime love of athletics and her desire to serve others led her to become the head athletic trainer at William Peace University.
“I have always participated in sports throughout my life,” Molnar said, considering what initially drove her to the athletic training industry. “I developed a close relationship with my high school athletic trainer, and I would frequently visit his office to ask him questions about injuries, learn how to tape, and observe the daily tasks that an athletic trainer would perform.”
This early hands-on experience caught Molnar’s interest and helped her pursue a career in the field. She started as the assistant athletic trainer in 2021m and became head athletic trainer this year.
Molnar experienced several significant events and turning points on his path to becoming WPU’s head athletic trainer. She spent two years at a community college to finish her prerequisites, and continued her education by enrolling at William Paterson University’s sports training program and participating as a student-athlete. She attended the University of La Verne for graduate studies after receiving her undergraduate degree. She was a graduate assistant athletic trainer there.
Molnar’s daily schedule as head athletic trainer is jam-packed with both practical and administrative duties. She balances a wide range of responsibilities to ensure the well-being of student-athletes.
“I arrive at work early in order to finish administrative tasks,” Molnar explained. “These include filing claim forms, sending in student-athlete bills and insurance information, and reviewing treatment and injury notes.”
In addition to paperwork, she focuses on preparing the facility for a busy day.
“I also verify student-athletes’ medical records and clearances, create the schedule, and clean the treatment room,” Molnar said.
She also helps student-athletes recover, ensuring they are fit for practice.
“Student-athletes schedule treatment sessions with me in order to undergo rehabilitation and an injury evaluation before practices,” Molnar said.
Managing the workload with a small workforce is one of the difficulties Molnar encounters in her position; the department is looking to hire a third athletic trainer.
Molnar is dedicated to striking a balance between her work obligations and her personal health in spite of the difficulties. Her desire to positively influence her student-athletes life is the driving force for her enthusiasm for athletic training.
“Knowing that I am having a positive influence on the student-athletes I deal with is my favorite aspect of my profession,” Molnar said. “The fact that I have gained the trust of most of the athletes and that they will come to me to discuss anything from injuries to life issues to mental health to even good things that happen in their lives is comforting.”
When Molnar witnesses injured athletes fully recover and resume competition, the benefits of her work become particularly clear to her.
“Having some athletes be ready to compete again after working with them for more than nine months is incredibly rewarding,” she said.
In the future, Molnar wants to keep developing in her position and learning new things.
“I want to take more courses in nutrition and mental health,” she said.
She also believes that sports training is changing, especially as mental health is becoming more widely acknowledged.
“I think that new practices will evolve with the continued recognition of mental health,” Molnar said.
Photo courtesy of WPU’s Athletic Department