UMC Sports Add Krueger as Assistant Athletic Trainer

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston athletic department has announced the addition of Heidi Krueger as assistant athletic trainer. Krueger comes to UMC after spending the last five months as an athletic trainer at Heartland Orthopedic Specialist in Alexandria, Minn. During her time at Heartland Orthopedic, Krueger served as the athletic trainer for Brandon-Evansville High School and as a physician extender for Dr. Jeff Brand.

“We are excited to add Heidi to the UMC staff as an assistant athletic trainer,” said Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson. “Heidi brings to UMC great experience as a student from her time at North Dakota State and during her time at Heartland Orthopedic. She joins a great staff led by Steven Krouse and we are elated to have her join the Golden Eagle family.”

Krueger’s primary responsibility will be with the UMC football team, where she will team with fellow assistant athletic trainer Amy Dehmer. She will also assist with UMC softball team during their dome season and UMC’s other nine athletic teams.

“I am very excited to get started at Minnesota Crookston,” said Krueger. “I just graduated from NDSU in May with my Master of Athletic Training and have been working in Alexandria for the past five months. I’m very excited to work with the football team and wherever they need me to help out.”

Krueger gained valuable experience as a student doing clinical assignments at North Dakota State. She worked with Fargo North and Fargo South High School, assisting with football, soccer, basketball, gymnastics and hockey. She also helped out with athletic training at NDSU with the cross country, track and field, wrestling, volleyball and football teams. In addition, she worked with Concordia College Moorhead and Fargo Force junior hockey.

She earned first-hand experience during clinical assignments with tarsal tunnel decompression rehab, arthroscopic meniscus repair rehab, fire cup, and Kinesio tape.

Krueger also was an intern for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, where she assisted with emergency care, illnesses, taping, wrapping, first aid, evaluations, treatment and rehab. In addition, she was an intern during her undergraduate studies with Heartland Orthopedic Specialist.

She obtained her Master of Athletic Training from North Dakota State in May of 2016 and her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Southwest Minnesota State in July of 2014. She graduated from SMSU with Cum Laude honors. She played soccer at SMSU in 2012 and 2013. Krueger also served as a personal fitness trainer during her time at SMSU, designing individual exercise prescriptions and modified prescriptions based on client response.

“I am very familiar with the NSIC having played soccer at Southwest Minnesota State,” Krueger said. “I have always been attracted to the Division II college setting. My mom actually went to school here when it was a two-year institution. UMC has been in the family, so it is pretty exciting that I get to start my career as a college athletic trainer in Crookston.”

Krueger is certified by the National Athletic Trainer Association-Board of Certification. She is also a Registered Orthopedic Technologist, Orthopedic Brace Technologist, Y Balance Test Administer Certified, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers certified by the American Red Cross. She is a member of the National Athletic Training Association and the American Society for Orthopedic Professionals.

Krueger will join Krouse, Dehmer and Megan Rinke as athletic trainers at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She will begin her appointment as assistant athletic trainer immediately.