WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State Athletics is enhancing its commitment to student-athlete health, welfare, and their overarching experience, through a consolidation of health and performance support units.
Taylor Spyker has been named Shocker Athletics' Senior Associate Athletic Director for Health & Performance and Primary Healthcare Administrator.
In a proactive response to the ever-changing landscape in college athletics, this new position will strategically manage the health and performance areas in support of Shocker student-athletes, to include, sports medicine, sports performance (i.e., strength/conditioning), mental health/performance, nutrition, and sports science. These units collectively create the
Shocker Health & Performance Team, in a continued effort to maximize resources and synergy, in effort to provide first-class service to Shocker student-athletes.
"Our mission is simple, we exist to develop young people and programs through first-class service to our student-athletes, coaches and Shocker Nation," said Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. "Recent investments and this organizational effort, in combination with the leadership of a highly competent and veteran leader in Taylor Spyker, will position our organization for optimal success as it relates to the performance needs of our 260 student-athletes. We appreciate our Deputy AD/Senior Woman Administrator (Madison Stein-Mason) and the staff within the Shocker Health & Performance Team, for their dedication and commitment to transforming the student-athlete experience – in particular, these critical health, performance, and wellness areas - at Wichita State University. Through recent programmatic surveys taken by our student-athletes, these enhancements are having a significant positive impact on the young people and programs we serve, ranking many of our support services above those of a peer group of 100 Division I institutions, 40 of which compete at the Power 5 level."
The Shocker Health & Performance Team includes 22 professionals and highlights both new and veteran personnel who ensure Shocker student-athletes are safe, well and performing at optimal levels.
Sports Medicine
Sports Performance
Mental Health & Performance
Spyker will work individually and collectively with these professionals to achieve organizational strategic objectives. Spyker comes to Wichita State after serving as the Head Athletic Trainer for Lexington Sporting Club in the United Soccer League since January 2023. She was responsible for the development and oversight of a High Performance Department including all personnel associated with the club that contributed to athlete's optimal health and performance.
Originally from West Virginia, Spyker has been an athletic trainer for more than 10 years, gaining experience at major NCAA Division I institutions such as LSU, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
"I'm extremely excited to work with Shocker Nation and continue to develop and grow Shocker Health and Performance," Spyker said. "It's an amazing opportunity to be a part of this and work alongside some amazing people. I look forward to what we can build together."
Taylor earned a Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training from West Virginia University. As an undergraduate student, she worked with a variety of sports including football, baseball, soccer, cheerleading and track and field. She went on to Louisiana State University to earn her Master's in Sports Pedagogy and Psychological Science. She was assigned to work with men's and women's swimming and diving and football.
After graduation she went to the University of Kentucky as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with football. Taylor also worked as the High-Performance Liaison and student worker for recruitment. In 2017, she moved to Senior Athletic Trainer working with men's soccer and overseeing other teams including women's soccer, track and field, stunt, cheerleading, men's tennis and women's tennis.
In January 2023, Taylor moved to Head Athletic Trainer for Lexington Sporting Club in the United Soccer League. Her main assignment was with the men's first team. She was tasked with overseeing all medical aspects including youth and academy teams and developing a High Performance department. This included Sports Medicine, Nutrition, and Mental Health.
Spyker and the Health and Performance team will provide state-of-the-art resources, expertise, and support for Wichita State student-athletes, now and well into the future. To support the Shocker Health and Performance Team and Shocker student-athletes, please consider making a contribution to
The Shocker Way Fund.
