Hempfield Spartan alumni Rachelle Naser has joined the Southmoreland athletic staff as an assistant trainer.
Naser went to Hempfield and is still “deep down a Spartan.” She attended California University of Pennsylvania to pursue her career in sports medicine.
Naser said that during her junior year of high school, she was still undecided about what she wanted to pursue as a career. After discussing multiple careers with her guidance counselor, she decided to try athletic training.
“At Hempfield we had a student program where if you were interested in athletic training you could help out,” said Naser. “I had a great mentor, Mrs. Lisa Brose. She helped me from day one, and I still go to her today for advice.”
Naser came from a wrestling family, so there was always a “love for the sport.” Her senior year of college she was originally supposed to be at a different high school that did not offer wrestling, so she got her program director to agree on an assignment at Southmoreland.
Naser was very excited to be able to come to Southmoreland “because they are hosts of one of the biggest winter wrestling tournaments in this area, the Excela Health Winter Classic,” she said.
“It is so awesome to have Paul (Cervola) as a mentor,” said Naser. “It’s even better to have him as the lead athletic trainer.”
Since working with Naser, Cervola has been able to see the passion for athletic training shine through her work.
“It is great to watch Rachelle excel because she is able to be on her own in a variety of situations,” said Cervolla. “Each day I see her excelling in the field.”
Naser claims that she is “not an athletic person,” as anyone who has seen her play sports would say, but she was a cheerleader for 12 years and will be there to cheer on the Scotties in any sport.
Naser loves to help the athletes in any way she can. “As long as they put the time in to help make themselves better, I will do whatever it takes to get them back in the game, whether it’s rehabilitation from an injury or strength and conditioning,” she said.
“It’s so important for the kids to know Paul and I are here for the kids to help with whatever we can,” said Naser. “We are always on the sideline of games and practices just in case.”
Naser is very happy to be apart of the Scottie family and is hoping to be here for a long time. But she does know that her superiors have future plans for her.
“I love it here,” she said. “I’m a diehard Spartan, but the coaches, staff, faculty, students and parents have been so welcoming. I can’t picture myself anywhere else.”