On Saturday, Jan. 6, head athletic trainer Crystal Kjar was inducted into the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association (NSATA) Hall of Fame during halftime of the boys varsity basketball game against Lincoln High. She was recognized for her 23 years of service in athletic training. 

“The highest honor a member of the NSATA can receive is an induction into the NSATA Hall of Fame,” Kjar said. “The NSATA invites eligible and deserving athletic trainers for this honor and be recognized for their contributions to the profession of athletic training.”

There are many requirements to be inducted into the Hall of Fame including being a member of the NSATA for at least 20 years and being a practicing athletic trainer in the state of Nebraska for more than 10 years. Within Kjar’s 23 years of service, she has helped many Southwest athletes recover from their injuries. 

“I sprained my ankle freshman year of basketball, and it was a pretty bad sprain. I have sprained my ankle many times in my sports,” sophomore Piper Bellamy said. “But this time, she (Kjar) was able to get me back to playing within a week. That is the fastest I’ve ever been able to recover.” 

Students can find Kjar in the training room from 11 a.m. until practices or competitions are complete for the day.