In Her Wake: Patel’s Experience with Football Highlighted Her Wake Forest Experience
2/12/2024 10:41:00 AM | Football
“Just seeing how much Wake Forest has grown on campus and the improvements to the athletics facilities is absolutely amazing.” - Anita Patel
Arriving on campus early as part of the Summer Bridge program, Anita Patel stumbled upon what ended up being a life-altering opportunity working with Wake Forest Football that culminated with her being head student athletic trainer her final two years.
She was on the ground floor when Dave Clawson took over the football program, but more importantly she was able to learn more about herself and grow as a leader in that position.
"It was something I stumbled into, but it was one of the best decisions I made," Patel said. "I was a pretty shy and behind-the-scenes person. But then when I was thrown into being head student athletic trainer, not only did I have to manage students senior to me, but also was working in a sport that was masculine dominant.
"I had to figure out how to hold my own with the students, coaching staff and the players. It was a big part of me becoming a bigger person and finding my voice."
Originally planning on going to college as far away as possible, Patel finally gave in to her father, Wake Forest professor Dr. Ajay Patel, and took in an information session and tour.
"The only in-state schools I applied to were Wake Forest and UNC," Anita said. "I fully intended on moving away.
"But then I realized that my short list of everything I wanted in college was right here. I got to experience Winston-Salem growing up here, then also as an undergrad."
Patel considers herself a huge sports fan and college football has always been her favorite sport.
"I got to campus a little early, as part of the summer bridge program," she said. "We came for the second summer session, around the same time the football team and other student-athletes had camps and started ramping up for their seasons.
"The summer bridge program was a concept to bridge the gap between the regular student body and the athletes. That was my first interaction with the athletics program."
Her dorm building neighbor was a football student equipment manager who encouraged Patel to join her.
"I had no idea that other students were involved with the team in any capacity," Patel said. "I went on a website for equipment management, and there was a post for athletic training. I was on a pre-med track, so that sounded more interesting to me."
She got the spot and worked at football practice two-to-three days a week while also performing on the Wake Forest dance team. As a sophomore, Patel went full-time with the sports medicine team. By the time she became an upperclassmen, she was offered the head student trainer position and found herself traveling with the team to all their away games in addition to working every practice.
"It was a significant commitment, considering all the other extra-curricular activities I had going on," Patel said. "It didn't feel like a job, and I didn't get paid for any of it. I was a volunteer student athletic trainer for four years.
"I got to see how the football program operates and how much time and effort is spent by the players and staff. I gained a lot of appreciation and respect. Getting to be alongside them in their journey is something that is special to me."
Often working closely with the wide receivers, including the 6-foot-5 Scotty Washington, Patel, who is 5-foot-2 would often appear lost on the field to her friends in the stands.
"Where's Anita was a game they would all say," she said.
She built strong relationships with many of the players from that area, including receiver Matt James and quarterback John Wolford.
"I was somebody Matt trusted," she said. "He had some interesting idiosyncrasies. He liked to have two pairs of gloves at practices. He would switch them half way through, when he thought the first pair got too sweaty. He would ask me to carry the other pair.
"John was very particular with the athletic training staff he trusted. He wanted a towel every time he came off the field, because he wanted to keep his hands dry."
After being around for back-to-back 3-9 seasons to start the Clawson Era, Patel got the joy of traveling with the team for the Military Bowl Championship over Temple in 2017.
"I got to see the coach Clawson transition and the way he set the standard," she said. "Seeing that growth in those first three years, it was amazing to see just how involved coach Clawson was. He went back to the basics. He had them practice how to recover a fumble. He practiced how to make a tackle.
"Coach Clawson would often be back coaching during punt returns, which included many of the wide receivers. He would stress the importance of having their elbows together, so the ball doesn't slip out."
With her family pretty serious pregame tailgaters, Patel stays in close contact with Wake Forest Athletics, and keeps tabs on some of the other trainers from her time with the program.
"I try to attend as many basketball games as I can, and this year I went to a lot of baseball games," Patel said. "Team 109 has a special place in my heart."
She's a former Wake Forest Fellow and has also been involved in the Business School as president of the student engagement council. Her role as senior innovation consultant has gone virtual, allowing her to recently move back to Winston-Salem.
"I'm excited to be closer to all the sporting events," Patel said. "Just seeing how much Wake Forest has grown on campus and the improvements to the athletics facilities is absolutely amazing. There is so much more recognition and prominence on a national level."
She was on the ground floor when Dave Clawson took over the football program, but more importantly she was able to learn more about herself and grow as a leader in that position.
"It was something I stumbled into, but it was one of the best decisions I made," Patel said. "I was a pretty shy and behind-the-scenes person. But then when I was thrown into being head student athletic trainer, not only did I have to manage students senior to me, but also was working in a sport that was masculine dominant.
"I had to figure out how to hold my own with the students, coaching staff and the players. It was a big part of me becoming a bigger person and finding my voice."
Originally planning on going to college as far away as possible, Patel finally gave in to her father, Wake Forest professor Dr. Ajay Patel, and took in an information session and tour.
"The only in-state schools I applied to were Wake Forest and UNC," Anita said. "I fully intended on moving away.
"But then I realized that my short list of everything I wanted in college was right here. I got to experience Winston-Salem growing up here, then also as an undergrad."
Patel considers herself a huge sports fan and college football has always been her favorite sport.
"I got to campus a little early, as part of the summer bridge program," she said. "We came for the second summer session, around the same time the football team and other student-athletes had camps and started ramping up for their seasons.
"The summer bridge program was a concept to bridge the gap between the regular student body and the athletes. That was my first interaction with the athletics program."
Her dorm building neighbor was a football student equipment manager who encouraged Patel to join her.
"I had no idea that other students were involved with the team in any capacity," Patel said. "I went on a website for equipment management, and there was a post for athletic training. I was on a pre-med track, so that sounded more interesting to me."
She got the spot and worked at football practice two-to-three days a week while also performing on the Wake Forest dance team. As a sophomore, Patel went full-time with the sports medicine team. By the time she became an upperclassmen, she was offered the head student trainer position and found herself traveling with the team to all their away games in addition to working every practice.
"It was a significant commitment, considering all the other extra-curricular activities I had going on," Patel said. "It didn't feel like a job, and I didn't get paid for any of it. I was a volunteer student athletic trainer for four years.
"I got to see how the football program operates and how much time and effort is spent by the players and staff. I gained a lot of appreciation and respect. Getting to be alongside them in their journey is something that is special to me."
Often working closely with the wide receivers, including the 6-foot-5 Scotty Washington, Patel, who is 5-foot-2 would often appear lost on the field to her friends in the stands.
"Where's Anita was a game they would all say," she said.
She built strong relationships with many of the players from that area, including receiver Matt James and quarterback John Wolford.
"I was somebody Matt trusted," she said. "He had some interesting idiosyncrasies. He liked to have two pairs of gloves at practices. He would switch them half way through, when he thought the first pair got too sweaty. He would ask me to carry the other pair.
"John was very particular with the athletic training staff he trusted. He wanted a towel every time he came off the field, because he wanted to keep his hands dry."
After being around for back-to-back 3-9 seasons to start the Clawson Era, Patel got the joy of traveling with the team for the Military Bowl Championship over Temple in 2017.
"I got to see the coach Clawson transition and the way he set the standard," she said. "Seeing that growth in those first three years, it was amazing to see just how involved coach Clawson was. He went back to the basics. He had them practice how to recover a fumble. He practiced how to make a tackle.
"Coach Clawson would often be back coaching during punt returns, which included many of the wide receivers. He would stress the importance of having their elbows together, so the ball doesn't slip out."
With her family pretty serious pregame tailgaters, Patel stays in close contact with Wake Forest Athletics, and keeps tabs on some of the other trainers from her time with the program.
"I try to attend as many basketball games as I can, and this year I went to a lot of baseball games," Patel said. "Team 109 has a special place in my heart."
She's a former Wake Forest Fellow and has also been involved in the Business School as president of the student engagement council. Her role as senior innovation consultant has gone virtual, allowing her to recently move back to Winston-Salem.
"I'm excited to be closer to all the sporting events," Patel said. "Just seeing how much Wake Forest has grown on campus and the improvements to the athletics facilities is absolutely amazing. There is so much more recognition and prominence on a national level."
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