Spaulding brings major-league experience as athletic trainer

Chad Spaulding, a member of the Aspirus Northland Orthopedics team, is bringing athletic training coverage to Northland Pines and Three Lakes High School athletic programs after being affiliated with the Kansas City Royals in the 1990s.
With the fall sports season recently concluding with football, volleyball, cross country and soccer, Spaulding now turns his focus to basketball, hockey and wrestling.
He earned his degree from Carthage College in Kenosha and shortly after graduation he began working with big-league stars in the Royals’ organization including George Brett, Johnny Damon and Carlos Beltran.
“I wish everybody could go to a pro sports team right away because it really teaches you work ethic and chain of command,” he stated. “Having spent several years working with professional athletes, I’m looking forward to applying that experience at the high school level and helping these athletes not only perform at their best, but stay healthy and safe throughout the season.”
Athletic trainers play a vital role in the health of athletes of any age, as they work closely with the athletes themselves and coaches.

Kendra Glebke, manager at Aspirus Northland Orthopedics, said Spaulding is a key piece to the team.
“Chad’s extensive background in athletic training, including his time with the Kansas City Royals, makes him an invaluable asset to our team and to the schools we support,” she said.
Spaulding grew up in Greenville, which is right around the Appleton area, and made many stops up to Pickerel for snowmobiling and working as a part-time athletic trainer out of Rhinelander, Elcho and Three Lakes. After leaving Major League Baseball, he worked 16 years in Watoma and Rockford, Ill. before the move back up to the Northwoods.
“I always wanted to get back to northern Wisconsin,” he said. “I’m thrilled to join the experienced Aspirus Northland Orthopedics team and to be able to contribute to the health and safety of student-athletes at Northland Pines and Three Lakes.”
Other athletic trainer coverage in the area includes Mariah Oemig (Crandon), Brianna Verhagen (Laona/Wabeno), Zach Furtak (Lakeland Union), Jim Nesbitt (Phillips and Tomahawk) and Ethan Willey (Rhinelander).