Schedule & Invited Speakers
2026 Keynote Speaker: Greta Neimanas
Elite Education Coordinator, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)
Greta Neimanas is a retired para-cyclist, two-time Paralympian, two-time World Champion, and the first American para-cyclist signed to a professional team. Following her retirement, she stayed involved in the sporting world serving as an athlete representative on the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) Athlete Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Athlete Committee, and served multiple terms on the Team USA Athletes’ Commission leadership team focusing her advocacy efforts on athletes’ rights and clean sport. She is now a full-time staffer on USADA’s education team, working specifically to increase educational opportunities for health professionals across the elite sporting landscape.
Presentation 1 – From Athlete to Educator
Learn about one athlete’s experience moving from being a professional, Team USA athlete with a compliance mindset, to anti-doping advocate, and now educator with the US Anti-Doping Agency.
Presentation 2 – The Health Professional’s Role in Anti-Doping
Anti-doping and clean sport are not only for athletes; it takes all of us! Learn how health professionals and care providers can support their athletes and patients in their athletic endeavors.
2026 Schedule
Thursday, March 19th
1:00 On-site Registration and Check-in
2:30 Welcome and Convening
3:00 Keynote Presentation #1
4:00 Poster Session #1
5:00 Breakout Sessions (3 sessions)
6:00 Northland Chapter Business Meeting
Friday, March 20th
7:30 On-site Registration and Check-in
8:30 President’s Cup Presentations
9:30 Poster Session #2
10:30 Invited Speaker
11:30 Lunch Break
1:30 Keynote Presentation #2
2:30 Breakout Sessions (3 sessions)
3:30 Vendor Fair
4:30 Quiz Bowl
7:00 High Tea
Saturday, March 21st
8:00 Breakout Sessions (2 sessions)
9:00 Poster Session #3 (Non-judged)
10:00 Breakout Sessions (2 sessions)
11:00 Awards and Closing
11:30 Dismissal
Invited Speakers and Presentors
Derek completed his undergraduate degree in biology at St. Olaf College, and his masters degree in exercise science at Minnesota State Mankato. His first post-college job was with Acceleration Minnesota, a sports performance training business in the Twin Cities featuring the Frappier Acceleration Sport Training system, where he worked for nearly 6 years. That position led to another opportunity with Frappier Acceleration in Manchester, England, where lived and worked for nearly 4 years. Shortly after returning to the US, Derek began working with the Sioux Falls-based Athletic Republic Program (formerly Frappier Acceleration) operated by Avera McKennan Hospital, where he has lived since 2001. During his time in Sioux Falls while working with local athletes to improve their speed, strength and conditioning, Derek completed his PhD in exercise science at South Dakota State University under the mentorship of Matt Vukovich, PhD. Since then, Derek and Matt have been co-investigators on a variety of research projects, many of which have focused on distance runners.
Cross-country running represents a popular high school sport in the United States. Unfortunately, 30-40% of high school distance runners report experiencing at least one running-related injury (RRI) during a season. By sex, females demonstrate a 1.4 times greater RRI incidence rate compared to males. Additionally, previous investigations have associated certain biomechanical measures with RRIs. More recently, RRIs have been investigated with respect to intra-individual kinematic and kinetic differences, i.e. bilateral asymmetry. However, despite the popularity of distance running at the high school level, a review of the literature reveals a paucity of research into the asymmetries of lower extremity kinematic and kinetics in this group. Further, of the research into asymmetries that has been done with runners of any age, the common approach includes capturing data on all subjects using the same running speeds. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation involved reporting on the asymmetries of kinematic and kinetic variables in female and male high school distance runners using speeds based on individualized metabolic testing.
Katelin Valster has taught in the Kinesiology program at Central College for sixteen years, including coursework such as anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, and special populations. Her early scholarship focused on experiential learning within special populations, then shifted toward applied human performance. Since 2020, she has integrated sport science technology into coursework and research to help students connect theoretical concepts to athletic and health settings. Her degree is in health and human performance, and she holds the NSCA-CSCS certification.
Curtis Schott is a junior at Central College, pursuing a degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in personal training as well as a minor in psychology. Curtis is a member of the Central College wrestling team and participant in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program. Curtis also serves as a Sergeant in the Iowa Army National Guard with six years of service. This is the second sport science research project that Curtis has had the opportunity to take part in through Central’s kinesiology program. Previously he assisted in the startup of Central’s athletic department use of the Hawkins Dynamic force plates. Curtis intends on graduating in 2027 before pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Presentation Title: Leveraging wearable technology to monitor training load in NCAA Division III football athletes
This session examines the feasibility, benefits, and practical challenges of implementing wearable technology to monitor training load in NCAA Division III football. Drawing on a yearlong dataset from a Midwestern Division III program (n = 35 athletes), presenters will demonstrate how GPS and accelerometer metrics can inform coaching decisions, return-to-play strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration among coaches, athletic trainers, and faculty. The session will address real-world considerations including staffing and time demands, while offering actionable examples of integrating wearables into small-college environments. Attendees will gain strategies for wearable technology practices to enhance athlete performance and academic learning within small college constraints.
Mary Stenson, PhD, is the Interim Department Head for the Department of Applied Human Sciences and the Program Coordinator for the Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Undergraduate Program at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She teaches courses in Exercise Physiology and Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition. She studies recovery from exercise and mentors several undergraduate research projects every year.
Ella Hammerbeck is a senior double majoring in Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, as well as Spanish Studies, with a minor in Chemistry at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Following graduation she plans to attend graduate school to become a Physician Assistant. She is a student researcher leading a project investigating substrate use during and after High Intensity Interval Exercises (HIIT) in eumenorrheic and oral contraceptive using women, and men.
Tyler McBride is a senior majoring in Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Following graduation, he plans to attend graduate school for Athletic Training. Currently, he is a student researcher leading a project that is investigating the effects of sleep quality on physical fitness.
Taylor Swantek is a senior majoring in Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Following graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for physical therapy. Currently, she is a student researcher leading a project that is investigating the metabolic effects of running unweighted.
Riley Bodnarchuk is a senior majoring in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation Sciences with a Pre-Med emphasis at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Following graduation, he plans to go to medical school. Currently, he is a student researcher leading a project investigating the effect of training load on neuromuscular readiness markers in Division 1 ice hockey players using force plate metrics.
Presentation Title: Mentored to Mastery: Using CUREs to Build Scientific Confidence and Independence in Undergraduate Exercise Science Researchers.
Course Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) are a high impact teaching practice in which students engage in mini-research projects guided by a faculty member within a course to answer an original research question with an unknown outcome. CUREs help students build skill foundations which can be transferred to larger scale, independent undergraduate research projects. Participation in independent research is an opportunity for students to develop skills and abilities valued by employers and graduate and professional programs. This session is a panel discussion designed to introduce students and faculty to the concept of CUREs and highlight how students used their experiences in an Exercise Physiology lab-based CURE to successfully develop and launch independent undergraduate research projects. The panel will be led by a faculty mentor who will discuss the benefits, challenges, and general structure of CUREs as well as how they mentor independent student research. Four undergraduate exercise science students with different career paths and research projects will discuss their experiences with CUREs. Student panelists will discuss what they learned from doing a CURE and how their experiences helped shape their independent research. The students will share advice on facing challenges and working with faculty mentors. The discussion will include tips for students who have access to faculty mentors using CUREs and how students might encourage faculty who already mentor student researchers to use CUREs to help students better prepare for independent research.
Dr. Andrea Cota Powell is an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Exercise & Sport Sciences and Strength & Conditioning programs at Augustana University. Dr. Powell completed her doctoral work at the University of South Dakota in Health Sciences and conducts research on the influence of athletic identity on retirement from competitive sports. Before her career led to higher education, Dr. Powell was a sports performance coach. She has coached Olympians, NFL players, youth athletes and active adults in the college, private and clinical settings. She is also the South Dakota State Director for the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
Presentation Title: The Strength & Conditioning Coach’s Role in Sport Retirement
There are over 500,000 student athletes that compete across all 3 NCAA Divisions. This means that over 130,000 retire from their sport annually. When compared to occupational retirement, sport retirement is a similar life transition, but one that takes place simultaneously with other major life events. In this presentation, we will explore the sport retirement experience, factors that promote successful adaptation to retirement, and how strength & conditioning coaches are uniquely positioned to help student athletes navigate this major life change.
Dr. Mark Hartman is an assistant professor of Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He earned his PhD in Kinesiology, specializing in exercise psychology and exercise physiology, from Iowa State University. Dr. Hartman also holds an MS in Exercise Physiology and an MA in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a BA in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience from Gustavus Adolphus College. Dr. Hartman’s research focuses on the neural mechanisms of fatigue during physical exertion and the role of fatigue as a symptom of chronic disease. Additionally, Dr. Hartman investigates the efficacy of affect-based exercise programs to promote physical activity behavior. Outside of academia, Dr. Hartman is an avid ultramarathon trail runner and often draws on his endurance training experiences to inform his teaching and research.
Presentation Title: The use and limitations of transcranial electric current stimulation in exercise research.
This presentation will examine the use and limitations of transcranial electric current stimulation (tES) in exercise research, with a focus on how modulating cortical excitability may influence exercise-related brain regions such as the frontal and motor cortices. The talk will review common methodological approaches, including stimulation modality (e.g., tDCS, tACS, tRNS), electrode montage, current intensity, and timing of stimulation relative to exercise. Particular attention will be given to how these methodological choices contribute to the highly variable findings observed across studies for both the psychological responses to exercise and performance outcomes. The session will conclude with practical recommendations for future research, emphasizing methodological standardization and cross-disciplinary collaboration between neuroscience and exercise science.
Dr. Luke Chowning earned his PhD in Exercise Physiology from Texas Tech University in 2023. His research training is in biomechanical analysis of athletic performance with a secondary emphasis in applied statistics. Dr. Chowning is currently an assistant professor at Dakota State University where he teaches course in biomechanics, strength & conditioning, and exercise physiology. More recently, Dr. Chowning oversaw the installation of a new biomechanics lab at Dakota State. In his free time, Luke enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, lifting weights, and watching sports.
Presentation Title: Single Subject Analysis: Bridging the Gap Between Researchers and Practitioners.
This session explains how single-subject analysis can help bridge the gap between human performance research and real-world coaching practice by addressing limitations of traditional group-level statistics. While group averages (mean ± SD) are useful for generalizable research, they often mask meaningful individual performance changes that practitioners rely on when evaluating athletes. The presentation highlights this disconnect, emphasizing that coaches assess progress within each athlete over time rather than comparing team averages. To address this issue, the session introduces the Model Statistic as a simple, practical method that can supplement group-level analyses and allow both researchers and practitioners to quantitatively evaluate individual performance changes, ultimately making research findings more applicable and actionable in applied settings.
Mark Asanovich is a fourteen-year National Football League (NFL) veteran Strength and Conditioning Coach. As a clinician, Asanovich has spoken nationally and abroad. Recently, Asanovich has been actively engaged as a researcher, speaker and co-author in evidence-based strategies for proactively mitigating the severity and frequency of Cervical Spine Injury and traumatic brain injury through head & neck strengthening. The culmination of the work resulted in publishing of “A Neck Strengthening Protocol in Adolescent Males and Females for Athletic Injury Prevention” in the Journal of Trainology in April of 2016.
Presentation Title: Protecting the Integrity of Sports By Protecting Those Who Play Sport.
The science of concussion continues to evolve; however, one thing is clear: We need to find better ways of protecting the human brain in sport and in life. The preponderance of research and expert consensus supports the evidence that whether a concussion is sports-related, recreational-related, blast-related and/or trauma-related, if the musculature of the neck is thicker and/or stronger; concussive and sub-concussive impact forces are more effectively dampened. Since Neck Strengthening provides a 100% guarantee of risk reduction, it makes Fitness Professionals the first line of defense! This lecture will equip exercise professionals and other stakeholders with an understanding of the principles and application of Evidence-based head & neck strength training.
Dr. Jacob Gallagher is an Assistant Professor in the Kinesiology Department at Iowa State University. He received his B.S. in exercise physiology and psychology (double major) from the College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, MN) and M.S. in exercise physiology from Minnesota State University (Mankato, MN). He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Health and Human Physiology. During his doctoral training, he worked in the Behavioral Medicine Lab (advisor: Dr. Lucas Carr), where he worked to design and evaluate a physical activity intervention for rural men. He also worked on research projects related to occupational physical activity and student health coaching. As a postdoctoral research scholar, he expanded his interest to focus on family health as well. He is particularly interested in using health interventions to address health holistically primarily by targeting physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, but also through improving mental health, diet, and social health.
Alaina Elliott-Wherry is a first-year doctoral student in Kinesiology and Health. She received her B.S. in psychology and sociology (double major) with a minor in gender studies from Mount Mercy University (Cedar Rapids, IA) and MPH with an emphasis in community and behavioral health from the University of Iowa College of Public Health. During her master’s, she focused on community-engaged research (CEnR) and projects with children and youth with special health care needs, local health departments, and community-based organizations. Her role prior to this involved evaluating evidence-based practices and supporting behavioral health care providers across the state who work with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). Her aspiring research interests are rooted in using mixed methods, CEnR, and multilevel interventions to address health disparities and promote physical activity amongst individuals living with SPMI in rural Iowa.
Kyuri Hong is a first-year Ph.D. student in Kinesiology Department in Iowa State University. During her undergraduate studies, she majored in Sport Science with a strong interest in sport management and industry, and gained research experience examining the role of AI in the sports industry. She then pursued a master’s degree in physical education, where she obtained a certified secondary school teaching license in physical education. Her primary research area has been physical activity and measurement, with a focus on 24-hour daily activity analysis and validation studies using accelerometers and smart devices. She aims to develop and evaluate evidence-based interventions that promote healthier movement behaviors and reduce health disparities. Her long-term goal is to apply her experience in physical education and research to support sustainable health and well-being.
Presentation Title: Putting the Community in Science Communication: Demystifying Research Through Outreach.
Professionals in exercise and sports medicine play a vital role in bridging the gap between research, clinical practice, and the community. In our presentation, the Health Intervention Research Team at Iowa State University will dive into three key areas: (1) science communication, (2) community outreach, and (3) community-engaged research. We will highlight lessons learned from ongoing projects that involve different approaches to community outreach and community-engaged research. The session will emphasize practical strategies for designing needs assessments, tailoring interventions, and implementing community-focused initiatives within real-world budgetary and time constraints while getting students involved in research.
Dr. Jessica Smith-Ricketts is an Assistant Professor at South Dakota State University in the School of Health and Human Sciences. She received her doctorate in exercise physiology from Kent State University and her masters in exercise science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is a certified exercise physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Ricketts conducts research exploring how various motivational strategies (such as gamification) can increase adherence to physical activity and specifically examines psychological determinants of adherence (e.g., affective valence, enjoyment).
Presentation Title: Exergaming – A Game Changer for Exercise?
While there are many health benefits associated with regular participation in physical activity, many individuals are still classified as physically inactive. It is important to explore viable strategies that increase psychological determinants of physical activity adherence, such as enjoyment and affective valence, as these variables have been demonstrated to increase motivation towards behavior change. One such strategy is exergaming, or physically active video gaming. Exergaming has been demonstrated to improve cognition, increase enjoyment, and elicit energy expenditures similar to that of treadmill walking. It is possible that exergaming employs strategies that are more potent distractors during physical activity, allowing individuals to work at higher intensities without experiencing negative affective responses. It is important to continue to explore exergaming, as it may be a viable modality that elicits more positive affective responses during physical activity at vigorous intensities, allowing individuals to receive the benefits of participating in high intensity physical activity without experiencing negative affective responses.
Lynnsey is a new faculty member in the Kinesiology Department at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She recently earned her PhD in Exercise Science & Health Promotion from the University of North Alabama, and her research focuses on nutrition and exercise strategies to enhance female metabolism. She is passionate about student engagement, applied research, and advancing scientific understanding of female-specific physiological needs.
Presentation Title: Optimizing Female Metabolism: Evidence-Based Nutrition & Exercise Across the Lifespan.
Drawing on current evidence and emerging studies, this session synthesizes key findings related to dietary strategies, exercise timing, resistance training, and periodized programing aimed at enhancing metabolic efficiency in females. Attendees will gain a critical understanding of the methodological strengths and limitations within existing research, as well as the challenges inherent to studying female metabolic health. The session will also translate scientific findings into practical applications for clinicians, coaches, and wellness professionals. Ultimately, this presentation outlines future directions in female metabolism research while equipping participants with terminology, context, and actionable insights to advance both research and practice.
Dr. Clark is a new Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she studies balance, gait, and the impact of anxiety on movement and attention. She also has experience with research in lower limb prosthetic biomechanics, neurophysiology of aging, and spent a large part of her time during her PhD investigating the biomechanics and visual attention related to fall risk in older adults. Outside of work, Dr. Clark enjoys running, backpacking, and exploring her new community in the midwest.
Estephania Nunez, DAT, ATC is an athletic trainer, educator, and researcher specializing in lower extremity injury prevention, rehabilitation outcomes, and evidence-informed clinical practice. She earned her Doctor of Athletic Training from Temple University, where her doctoral research examined disparities in access to athletic training services in secondary school settings. Her scholarly work focuses on biomechanics, neuromuscular deficits following injury, and innovative rehabilitation approaches, including virtual reality and markerless motion capture.
Presentation Title: From Fearful to Functional: The Critical Role of Trust in Overcoming Kinesiophobia Post-Injury.
Summary of presentation for project: Musculoskeletal injuries are common among collegiate and secondary school athletes, yet rehabilitation has traditionally placed emphasis on physical recovery while overlooking psychological readiness for return to activity. This presentation examines kinesiophobia, the fear of movement that contributes to movement avoidance, neuromuscular inhibition, and prolonged recovery following injury. Attendees will learn how kinesiophobia affects return-to-play outcomes and how tools such as the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia can be incorporated into clinical assessment. The session will also highlight emerging work by Dr. Clark and Dr. Nunez examining how interpersonal trust between athletes and their support network including coaches, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning professionals can influence psychological recovery and rehabilitation outcomes.