Sports Extra: The unsung heroes of CSU-Pueblo athletics

Jacob Heckman is the director of sports medicine for CSU-Pueblo. He and his staff are responsible for making sure the Thunderwolves' student-athletes are ready to rock.

"It definitely feels good when maybe someone someone scores a touchdown comes over and gives me a hug on the sideline," Heckman says. "It's always very rewarding and makes me feel good."

The coaches and players appreciate what Heckman and his staff mean to the team.

"They are the team," says football coach John Wristen. "They're not part of it. They *are* the team that brings it all together. So they're as much as important as a coach in a position."

"They're the unsung heroes, honestly," says T-Wolves' quarterback Hunter Raquet. "And just when you get into the dog days of the season, they're there. Really important to the team."

"I definitely make sure to show the training staff some love after the game," says left tackle Elijah Reed. "I think usually after the games I probably don't move for about a good 30 minutes. So I think it's all due to them really."

Heckman and his staff get every athlete for every sport ready to compete. This is the third school Heckman has worked for. The days are long, often close to twelve hours. But he says it's worth it.

"Being around the team, being around the guys and whatever sport, whatever team I'm working with, you build relationships with pretty much everybody. College sports in general is just a community and it's great to be around."