For many athletes at CMU, the spotlight comes down to game-day performance. Behind every play lies weeks of purposeful and strategic training. Those behind-the-scenes workouts are where athletes build the physical and mental strength that makes those moments possible. At the center of it all are the coaches who guide and support each athlete to be the best version of themselves.
Manager of wellness and fitness Carson Pipher dedicated herself to supporting and training many CMU athletes. Pipher began her journey as one of the university’s own student athletes, playing for the women’s Basketball team. After competing at a high level, Pipher suffered a knee injury that forced her to step back.
“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. I felt like I lost my identity, I felt like I did everything right,” Pipher said.
As Pipher’s interest in strength training grew, she began taking classes and networking, motivated by her own journey through injury and recovery. Pipher said that athletes perform their best when they are having fun and feel confident, which is something she works to encourage.
For many athletes that she works with, she focuses on consistent strength training for three weeks and uses the fourth week for recovery. Pipher believes that in many cases, less is more.
“A lot of the time, people think that you have to work out for at least an hour for it to be effective. In reality, moving your body even for a little bit every day is great,” Pipher said.
Junior business major Isaiah Shizuru got to know the CMU’s strength and conditioning resources well from being a wide receiver on the football team. Shizuru transferred to CMU from the University of Hawaii after deciding he wanted to continue his athletic career somewhere new.
Many coaches and trainers at CMU prioritize long-term strength and recovery. Maverick athletes have access to many resources, like ice baths, heat packs and one-on-one sessions with trainers to help meet each athlete’s personal goals.
Strength and conditioning coach Amber Rummel is passionate about helping athletes train safely and efficiently. Rummel grew up competing in various sports and was drawn to the CMU’s exercise science program, where she earned her degree. She brings positivity and understanding to each athlete she works with and said that the brain and the body work together as one.
“I take the time to talk with each athlete and really figure out what their goals are, and once I know that, I can kind of work backwards and figure out what areas we need to target to get them there,” Rummel said.
She went on to say how much the sports and conditioning world has advanced, now providing coaches with tools that accurately track each athlete’s progress.
“We now have tools like force plates and timing gates that help show us exact progress for each athlete, which has been huge,” she said.
She also encourages her athletes to take advantage of their trainers.
“I’ve worked with a lot of athletes who felt like they could only go if they were injured, but our trainers offer so many great resources for recovery,” Rummel said.
Ultimately, the work taking place behind the scenes is what helps the University’s athletes show up feeling like the strongest version of themselves. Whether it is intentional training, thoughtful recovery, or taking the time to set personal goals, coaches like Rummel and Pipher work hard to ensure that each athlete feels ready when their moment comes.
