Erica Witkowski joined the Prairie Fire Athletic Training staff in the fall of 2017. Erica earned her bachelor’s in athletic training from Northern Illinois University in 2016. She then received her master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Psychology and Ability Diversity from Western Illinois University in 2019. Prior to Knox, Erica worked as an athletic trainer for the women’s soccer and baseball teams at the University of Illinois-Springfield.
During her time at Northern Illinois, she focused on ACL injury prevention research programs.
With her research on ACL injury prevention, Witkowski has been published in the Journal of Athletic Training and presented her work at the National Athletic Training Convention. Erica has also worked as an intern with the University of Illinois men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams and the USA Paralympic Wheelchair Track team during the 2016 Rio Olympic games.
- What is your favorite Knox memory?
Men’s Soccer winning 2018 MWC Championship at St. Norbert. The entire trip was full of great
memories that I’ll forever cherish. I don’t think I’ll ever get “Championes, Champoines Ole, Ole,
Ole” out of my head 🙂 - What is your favorite all-time at your job? (if not the same as Knox
memory)
I was able to work with the USA Paralympic Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team when they
won gold in Rio. - What do you love most about your job?
Seeing an athlete return back to play after recovering from an injury. After working closely with
an athlete through rehab, it is rewarding to see athletes on the court/field doing something they
love. - What do you love about Knox?
The community of staff, faculty and students make me feel a part of one big family. - If you could coach/work anywhere in the world where would it be?
Athletic trainer for the United States Women’s National Soccer Team. - Favorite Movie
Marry Poppins - What is one tip you would give an incoming FY?
Soak in every moment, do not be in a rush! Time flies by! This is the time to explore new things,
meet new people and learn about yourself. - Why did you get into athletics?
Sports have always been a big part of my life and I always wanted to pursue a career in health
care. This allowed me to combine the two together. - Favorite band/artist
Mayday Parade/ Taylor Swift - Favorite Food
Anything Italian; specifically, penne alla vodka.
***Story courtesy of Knox College athletics***
