Sports Medicine

Niagara University Sports Medicine

Led by nationally and regionally renowned physicians and certified athletic trainers, the Niagara University sports medicine program bases its operation from the Ray Kist Memorial Athletic Training Room in the Kiernan Center.

Serving over 300 student-athletes each year, the mission of the sports medicine program at Niagara is the care of the student-athletes. This includes, but is not limited to, prevention, evaluation and rehabilitation of injuries of the student-athletes. The athletic trainers administer emergency care for acute sport injuries and rehabilitate chronic injuries.

In addition to the 1,936-square foot Ray Kist Memorial Athletic Training Room, Niagara student-athletes have access to the 400-square foot Gallagher Center training room and 285-square foot Dwyer Arena athletic training room.

The Purple Eagle athletics training staff is headed by John Munro, now in his 17th year at Niagara and with the men’s basketball program. A graduate of Canisius College, Munro coordinates the athletics training staff and coverage for all 18 Division I sports at Niagara. He oversees a staff of four full-time athletic trainers and two part time athletic trainers.

Scott Mastrobattista is in his fifth year at Niagara as the associate athletic trainer and will work year-round with the men’s hockey team as well as with the women's lacrosse team. Mastrobattista graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1994 and earned his master’s degree in school counseling from Niagara in 2000.

Dave Vasquez enters his fifth season at Niagara and will be working with women’s hockey, men’s soccer and both tennis teams . Vasquez graduated from the University of Buffalo in 2004 with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise science.

Carol Becker enters her second season at Niagara and will be working with women's soccer, women's basketball and softball.

Niagara has three physicians and a team dentist working with the Purple Eagles.

Dr. Frank Schlehr is in his 15th year as Niagara’s head team physician, overseeing care for all the student-athletes at Niagara. Schlehr served as a consultant for the San Francisco 49ers, as well as being an assistant team physician for Stanford University.

Dr. Jerome Andres is in his 11th year working with Niagara. He provides home game coverage for the men’s and women’s basketball and women’s hockey games.

Dr. Richard Castaldo, who is in his 13th year with Niagara, provides the Purple Eagles with their primary care coverage.

Dr. Mario Violante, Jr., works as a consultant with the Niagara sports medicine program. He also provides custom-fit mouth guards for the Purple Eagles for the past 14 years.

John Munro Assistant AD for Sports Medicine	Scott Mastrobattista Associate Athletic Trainer	David Vasquez Assistant Athletic Trainer	Carol Becker Assistant Athletic Trainer

Dr. Frank Schlehr Head Team Physician	Dr. Jerome Andres Team Physician	Dr. Richard Castaldo Team Physician	Dr. Mario Violante Jr. Team Dentist