UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine is the presenting sponsor for the 2015 Prep Talk Awards, honoring over 150 local high school athletes and coaches. UBMD Ortho is proud to name Andrew Bronson, a Lockport High School varsity football and lacrosse player, as Comeback Athlete of the Year. Andrew will be honored at the Prep Talk Awards on June 15 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.
Last fall, Andrew was injured during the ninth play of Lockport High School’s homecoming game against Niagara Falls High School. Andrew described how he sustained the injury: “I was playing weak side outside linebacker and they ran away from my side. While scraping over to get to the play, I hit a lineman and fell over with him on top of me. I landed on my hand with my elbow locked out and it popped out of place.”
Greg Bronson, Andrew’s father and football coach, was concerned when his son was injured but knew that his son was in excellent hands. “Our athletic trainer, Rosealin Heinemann, was instrumental in the immediate aftermath of the injury and during the recovery and rehabilitation process,” Bronson said. He noted how Heinemann provided reassurance to his wife as she waited on the sideline with Andrew while the ambulance was en route to the game. “Her extensive knowledge of physical training and her familiarity with Andrew as a person were important factors in the speed and effectiveness of his recovery and transition back into actual athletic competition.”
An athletic trainer, commonly referred to as an ATC, is a highly trained specialist in injury prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries, and medical conditions that typically occur on the sidelines of athletic competition. UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine provides athletic trainers to over 25 Western New York high school athletic programs, and is looking to grow their ATC outreach program through the announcement of the ATEAM program (Athletic Training Education and Medical Program).
The Bronsons knew that UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine would provide Andrew with the care and expertise that he needed to make a full recovery. Andrew is the third in his family to have gone through surgery and/or rehabilitation with Dr. Fineberg, Scott Dinse, and Heinemann.
When Andrew’s rehabilitation was complete, he needed a strength and conditioning specialist to supervise his increased activity level and training load. “Scott Dinse recommended Jim Mollosky, who I had previously known when he was the first UBMD Ortho trainer to work at Lockport High School,” said Bronson. “Jim’s workout routine allowed Andrew to safely increase his training and be ready to participate in lacrosse as the spring sports season arrived. The teamwork demonstrated by the professionals at UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine was integral to the entire process.”
Recovery and rehabilitation is difficult for any athlete but throughout the process Andrew was incredibly hardworking and dedicated to ensuring a full recovery. “The UBMD Ortho team helped him recognize the importance of increasing activity only as his body was able to handle the increased stress,” Bronson said. “Their encouragement was essential to his maintaining a positive attitude throughout the process.”
UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine is honored to recognize Andrew Bronson as this year’s Comeback Athlete of the Year, and we look forward to all that he will accomplish next season.