WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State earned the 2025-26 Lone Star Conference Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award for football-playing institutions. The staff, which is under the direction of head athletic trainer Gary Diehm, received the honor for the sixth time.

The award is voted on by the head athletic trainer at each member school, and Diehm says that makes the honor especially nice.

"Hopefully we're doing everything the right way," Diehm said. "We treat our kids the right way — treat the visiting teams the right way — ultimately you want the best health care for everybody around."

The purpose of the LSC award is to raise awareness of the athletic training profession. Criteria for the award includes hospitality toward visiting athletic trainers and teams; preparedness with supplies, equipment, and services for visiting athletic trainers and teams; preparedness for emergency situations; and care for injured athletes from visiting teams.

Diehm, who just completed his 25th year at Midwestern State,  is assisted by assistant head athletic trainer Laura Poston; assistant athletic trainer Matt Day; graduate assistant athletic trainer Samantha Cervantes; and student athletic trainers Kennedy Smith, Melissa Urbana, Mikya Genty-Williams, Maritza Gomez, William Longhenry, Mariana Martinez, Hunter McBride, Aubrey Mueller, Trevor Patterson, Kaylah Tinh, Wendy Uribe, Abigail Amaya, Jailyn Anderson, Wyatt Corral, Jacob Pankonien, Adriana Perez, Pricilla Posas and Todd Smith.

"I've got good people around me. We've got a great student staff that helps us, combined with good professionals who are working with our athletes —it's a win, win for everybody," Diehm said.

The MSU staff provides coverage for 13 varsity sport programs. Diehm also handled athletic training duties at the LSC Tennis Championships.