Ryan “Pete” Manely received the honor of being the first athletic trainer inducted into the Barton Community College Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Jan. 24. Manely is the director of the Athletic Training Program and director of graduate studies at Sterling College.

Ken Henderson, head athletic trainer at Barton Community College, introduced Manely at the award ceremony. He described Manely’s time as an athletic training student at Barton by saying, “Because of his attendance (at athletic training workshops,) he easily learned the required athletic training techniques and comfortably took on responsibility as situations demanded. …I definitely took advantage of Pete’s coverage of track and field. Having him on our staff was almost like having a full-time assistant, and that was unheard of at the community college level back then.”

Manely is the current president of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics-Athletic Trainers Association and was named the NAIA-ATA Athletic Trainer of the Year for the 2010-11 academic year. He serves on the NAIA National Advisory Council and is a member of the National Cheer Safety Council.

At Sterling College, Manely is the athletic trainer for Sterling College’s women’s basketball team and the eligibility director of the Athletic Department. Manely has graduated 48 students from Sterling’s Athletic Training Program, 32 of which became certified athletic trainers. 

“Saturday was a very special day for me. Ken Henderson was and still is a mentor to me. To go into the Barton Athletics Hall of Fame as the first athletic trainer is a testament to Ken’s longevity and respect to his program. I will say on a personal note, to have my parents and close friends there made the day more than about me and my accomplishments – it was about doing all of those things to do my best for them,” said Manely.

After finishing his associate degree from Barton Community College, Manely completed a bachelor’s degree in physical education with emphasis in athletic training and a minor in history from Charleston Southern University. He then earned his master’s degree in physical education and sports medicine from Ohio University. He is currently working to complete his doctorate in health science from Nova Southeastern University.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.

Photo courtesy of Barton Community College.