For the first time in school history, Village Christian Athletic Training has secured the Henry Schein Division National Championship, bringing home the honor from the 2026 AACI (American Academic Competition Institute) National Sports Medicine Competition, the organization announced.
Taking first place in the division of schools up to 999 students, VCS topped St. Francis (second place) and Blair (third).
“We are so incredibly proud of the hard work these students put in all year to get to this point,” said VCS Athletic Director Diana Putignano. “It is incredible to see their efforts pay off, and we are so excited to see them continue to grow from here.”
The team was paced by the following individual finishes: Erin Nesmith (second), Colette Kendrick (fifth), Alex Franco (seventh), Sadie Cates (ninth), Reese Lee (12th), Kristina Olguin (14th), Zachary Burks (15th), and Noah Choe (16th).
The competition, which once again featured a 300-question test as well as a practical exam, was held in May and followed the regional event at St. Francis in March.
This year’s result followed a tremendous showing in 2025, when the team finished third and Nesmith and Kendrick placed first and second, respectively, as individuals.
“As I reflect back on our success this year, especially through the lens of my individual placement last year, I am incredibly proud and grateful to finish my time in the athletic training program on such a high note,” Nesmith said. “I was beyond thrilled at my success last year, but I was even more proud of our team performance this year because we really came together in spite of dramatic changes to our program. As I and the six other seniors on the sports medicine team move on to our next chapters, I am content knowing that we are leaving a legacy of grit and camaraderie that I hope future classes will continue to embrace. I am so grateful for Dr. D and Kait for being incredible mentors throughout my time in high school and to my fellow athletic training students for being such wonderful friends that I will always cherish.”