Kyle Momsen with the U.S. women’s saber fencing team.
Kyle Momsen, an adjunct instructor in the health and exercise science department at Gustavus Adolphus College, is a man who wears many hats.
As a full-time faculty member, Momsen teaches six courses a year at the College including First Aid and CPR, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Athletic Training Techniques. On top of that, he serves as the clinical education coordinator and interim program director for the athletic training program at the College.
“As clinical education coordinator I train our athletic training staff and other clinical instructors in methods to enhance our students’ learning,” Momsen said. “I also create, supervise, and assign clinical rotations for our students as part of their laboratory experiences.”
While Momsen certainly has his hands full with his duties at Gustavus, he has found time to volunteer his athletic training services to the United States Fencing Association (USFA). Momsen is currently assigned to provide athletic training to the U.S. women’s saber team. The experience has allowed Momsen to travel with the team to competitions throughout the United States and internationally to places like Great Britain, France, China, and Hungary.
“It’s been an enriching experience for me because I get to see some different injuries than what I typically see with the athletes at Gustavus,” Momsen said. “I am also getting exposure to other professionals throughout the world and how they treat their patients.”
The U.S. women’s saber team has recently earned a reputation of being the strongest U.S. fencing team. American women swept the gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the saber division.
While studies have shown that fencing is actually one of the safest sports with a low injury rate, Momsen said his duties can range from taking care of a simple blister to providing emergency care for major injuries while waiting for emergency medical personnel to arrive.
“Most often we provide preventative treatments like taping ankles, stretching, and preparing muscles for competition,” Momsen said. “While traveling with a team we are also able to provide rehabilitation services and give advice on general health and medical concerns.”
Momsen’s involvement with the USFA has also paid off for one Gustavus alumna. Last year, Momsen had the opportunity to bring two Gustavus students in the athletic training program to a national fencing competition in Chicago. One of the students, Kristin Meinz ’08, was later accepted into the program and will work her first fencing event for the USFA this spring in Albuquerque.
Momsen earned his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Gustavus in 2001. He went on to earn his master’s degree in exercise and sports science and athletic training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003. After working as a clinical coordinator at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Momsen returned to Gustavus as a member of the faculty in 2005.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510