Dear Athletes and Parents:
With the new wrestling season coming soon, I wanted to take an opportunity to welcome you and introduce you to your medical staff. I am Dr. Jeffrey Kovacic (said ko-vas-ick). I am the team physician for Northview High School Athletics. I am an orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty in sports medicine. Along with Rick Flateau, our athletic trainer, and Marc Stewart, PT, our physical therapist, we make up the medical staff that takes care of Northview athletes.
Rick attends all the home varsity and some JV events for most of the sports throughout the year so should be available most days of the week after school. He will post training room hours. We also hold a training room session on Tuesday evenings (as needed) at which I will see injured athletes. These sessions are done at the discretion of the trainer, Rick Flateau. Please notify Rick ASAP if you get injured.
Please see the Wrestling Handbook for some guidelines on injuries, injury clearance forms, skin hygiene, and weight loss. In particular, skin infections are common in wrestlers and are best treated EARLY. If you find a skin lesion, bring it to the attention of your coach, doctor, Rick, or me.
When it comes to weight loss, remember that losing weight quickly (dehydration) is dangerous. The goal is to lose fat without losing muscle. This is best done with an appropriate diet and by not losing more than a pound a week. If you need to lose weight, start EARLY and go slowly.
If you have any questions, concerns, or injuries, do not hesitate to contact Rick or me. We are here to help you be successful in your sport. Ideally we would like to keep you injury-free. At a minimum, we want you back to the mat ASAP if you get an injury or skin infection. All Northview athletes have priority scheduling with my office. When you call, identify yourself as a Northview athlete and we will get you in that day (usually) or the next day.
Good luck this season. I look forward to helping you achieve your goals.
Jeffrey Kovacic, M.D.
