Bethel’s Jason Essary Named the MSC's Above and Beyond Athletic Trainer of the Year

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Bethel's (Tenn.) Jason Essary is the 2024-25 Mid-South Conference's Above and Beyond-Athletic Trainer of the Year, MSC officials announced on Wednesday.

The honor is Essary's third of his career. He also earned the recognition during the 2020-21 and 2022-23 academic years.

"It's an honor to be selected for this award by my peers," Essary said. "I am only trying to do what God has put me on this earth to do and follow his lead of being a servant leader.

"I feel like every athletic trainer should be awarded this on a yearly basis for our dedication, hard work, long hours and endless challenges that we face," Essary added. "The landscape of college athletics is continuing to change and our knowledge and abilities have to keep up with these changes in order to see our student-athletes and teams succeed."

His Bethel colleagues complimented Essary as a knowledgeable individual who exhibits a great degree of pride in his work.

"All of us in the athletic department are proud of and for Jason," Bethel Athletics Director Dave McCulley said. "His work ethic and commitment as our Head Trainer and Director of Sports Medicine remain amazing. He is undaunted in serving almost 700 athletes on a daily and weekly basis.

"He has the respect of our athletes, coaches, and staff," McCulley added. "He cares and protects their safety and well-being. One of the biggest factors about Jason is that I know our athletes trust him. We all congratulate Jason on this well-deserved honor."

The Mid-South Conference Above and Beyond award is voted on by each institution's head athletic trainer. They are not allowed to vote for themselves.