Justin Wagler
Name: Justin Wagler
Program: Athletic training
Graduation year: 2022
Job title: Assistant athletic trainer, Toledo Mud Hens (AAA affiliate of Detroit Tigers)
Q: What have you been doing since graduation?
A: After graduating in December 2022, I started my current position as an assistant athletic trainer with the Detroit Tigers organization and their AAA affiliate the Toledo Mud Hens.
Q: What was your experience in the U-M School of Kinesiology like?
A: Being a part of the Michigan Kinesiology program has provided me with some amazing personal, academic, and clinical experiences. I was part of the first cohort of students in the athletic training master’s program. I had the opportunity to meet many new friends, professors, support staff, preceptors, and future colleagues, and I’m proud to call them part of my Michigan family. During my time at U-M, I completed clinical rotations with Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and the U-M women’s softball and U-M men’s ice hockey teams. I also completed an immersive clinical rotation with the Detroit Tigers and an internship with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Q: In your opinion, what's the best part of SoK?
A: The immersive clinical experience in the second year of the program. This provides the opportunity for students to gain athletic training experience in the specific area and setting of their interest. I worked very closely with Adam Lepley, the program’s clinical education coordinator, who helped me by discussing my goals and interests and helping me find various opportunities, including my immersive clinical rotation with the Detroit Tigers and my internship with the Arizona Diamondbacks. These experiences helped me develop the skills, experience, and connections in the athletic training field to earn my first job as a certified athletic trainer working with the Detroit Tigers organization.
Q: How has your Kinesiology degree contributed to your success?
My Master of Science degree in athletic training from the School of Kinesiology provided me with a strong basis and foundation in athletic training and prepared me well to be successful on the board of certification exam, which allowed me to become a certified athletic trainer and earn the ATC credential.
Q: What would you like prospective students to know about the School of Kinesiology?
A: Prospective students should know that the professors, staff, mentors, and preceptors in the athletic training program will do whatever they can to help you reach your goals, gain experience in your areas of interest, and set you up for a successful career as a certified athletic trainer. For example, students have the opportunity to work very closely with professors like the athletic training education program director, Brian Czajka, who teaches many of the classes and is always very supportive of the students, gets to know them as individuals, understands their goals, and helps them work toward achieving them.
Prospective students should know that the professors, staff, mentors, and preceptors in the athletic training program will do whatever they can to help you reach your goals, gain experience in your areas of interest, and set you up for a successful career as a certified athletic trainer.