Seahawks Welcome Two New Athletic Trainers

St. Mary’s City, Md. – Jim Cranmer, St. Mary’s College of Maryland head athletic trainer and compliance coordinator, is pleased to announce the hiring of Dena Bissell and Stephanie Guzzo as assistant athletic trainers.  The two new trainers will fill the vacancies left by Sarah Tipsword and Jessica Pope who both left to pursue other career opportunities.

Cranmer stated, “We are excited about the addition of Dena and Steph to our staff.  Not only are they bright and energetic, they also bring a wide variety of experience both as undergraduate and graduate student athletic trainers.”

“We have been fortunate to have had some excellent assistant athletic trainers on staff at SMCM, and Dena and Steph will both carry on that tradition.  Our goal is to provide the best possible healthcare to the student-athletes at SMCM, and the addition of these two athletic trainers gives us the best opportunity of achieving that goal,” added Cranmer.

Bissell earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education with a concentration in athletic training in 2008 from University of Kansas.  The Centreville, Va. native then completed a master of education in 2010 at Alvernia University.  Bissell comes to St. Mary's fresh off her two-year stint at Alvernia where she served as the primary ATC for men's ice hockey along with working with 13 other Crusader sports teams.  While at Alvernia, she worked as well with Commonwealth Orthopedic Associates and participated in conducting physicals at area middle and high schools as well as providing event coverage as needed. 

“I am truly excited to be joining the athletics division here at St. Mary’s College and to get to know everyone that I’ll have the pleasure of working with.  This is an exciting, new time in my life and I’m glad I get to spend it here at St. Mary’s,” said Bissell.

Guzzo earned her Bachelor of Science degree in exercise and sports sciences with a concentration in athletic training and a minor in child development from Colby-Sawyer College in 2007.  The Worcester, Mass., native followed that up with a master of science in athletic training in 2008 from Indiana State University.  She comes to St. Mary's after two years as an assistant trainer at Becker College in Leicester, Mass.  Guzzo served as the head trainer for Becker's football team while assisting with the other 16 Hawk sports teams.

Guzzo responded, “I am really excited to be at St. Mary’s and for this opportunity.  I’ve always loved Maryland and being around the water.  I’m looking forward for the year to begin.”