CU-Lock Haven graduate student gains experience in the athletic training field through semester-long internship at St. Lawrence University
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (12/22/2025) — Commonwealth University-Lock Haven athletic training graduate student, Zach Rankin, completed a semester-long internship at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.
During his time at St. Lawrence, Rankin, of Selinsgrove, worked with a diverse group of student-athletes on their Division 1 men's and women's ice hockey teams, as well as baseball and men's and women's lacrosse.
Rankin feels he grew tremendously as a professional and in his knowledge of managing and working through many types of injuries. "I used this opportunity as a great experience to learn more about lower back injuries and management, but also hip pathologies and management," he said. "I felt that was an area I could use some practice in, and due to the nature of ice hockey, it provided me with the learning opportunity that I needed."
His preceptors included Emily Miller (MS, LAT, ATC), athletic trainer with the men's ice hockey team, and Scott Howard (MS, LAT, ATC), athletic training for the women's team. They allowed him to practice evaluation skills and manage individual rehabs for any type of injuries that were sustained throughout the season.
Rankin completed rehabs such as managing an athlete back from lateral ankle sprains, starting with range of motion exercises, strengthening exercises and progressing to functional activities. He also completed multiple knee and low-back rehab programs, such as strengthening and functional testing, to help determine play readiness of the athlete.
Due to the great season the women's hockey team had, Rankin was provided the opportunity to travel to Cornell University to help the team throughout their journey through the ECAC Championships and then to Columbus, Ohio, for the NCAA Tournament at Ohio State University, where they got to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament.
"The traveling experience gave me the ability to understand how to work away from your home base and all of your equipment you would have normally at a home facility," Rankin said.
Having the ability to work in well-equipped Athletic Training facilities and with six full-time athletic trainers provided Rankin with the experience to gain knowledge and to bounce ideas off multiple different people to help him learn and make decisions in his chosen career.
"Having this great opportunity at SLU has helped me feel more confident in my education and ability work with athletes on a daily basis to get them back to playing after any type of setback," Rankin said.
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Julie Stellfox, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, jms833@commonwealthu.edu, 570-484-2280Share this Story
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