LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International University Athletics continues its 2020 Dustdevil Student-Athlete Award series, announcing the award for Athletic Training on Wednesday.

The Student-Athlete Award for Athletic Training is named the Ernst Feisner Award after the late head athletic trainer. Feisner served as the head athletic trainer for TAMIU from 2002-2018.

Ernst Feisner Award

Sarah (SJ) Sandoval

Sarah has been an important member of the athletic training team for TAMIU the last couple seasons. Her hard work, dedication and passion for athletic training are just a few of the qualities Sandoval possesses and is why she was named the Ernst Feisner Award winner.

"When I started here as athletic trainer, everyone talked about SJ and how she was such an asset to the program in the past," said head athletic trainer Kayla Zambanini. "I had no idea until I met her how much she really does mean to us."

Student trainers like SJ have to not only carry the balance of working in the office and with the athletes, but also have the normal workload brought forth by classes.

"It takes a lot of dedication to be a student trainer," said Zambanini. "SJ spent every waking hour she wasn't working or in the classroom in the training room. She did the dirty work, she did the fun stuff and she had a great report with all the student athletes. We couldn't have gotten through the year or been as successful without her help."

Although SJ will no longer be a member of the TAMIU athletic training staff as a student worker due to graduation, she now focuses on her master's degree to allow her to then become a certified athletic trainer.