On a typical Saturday afternoon in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Paul Catterson, MBBS, takes his place beside the pitch at St. James’ Park, home turf to the Newcastle United football squad. The chants of 50,000 fans echo through the stands, the tension of Premier League football — with a new season kicking off this week — thick in the air. But Catterson, the club’s doctor, is immune to the spectacle. His focus is absolute. He watches every collision, every awkward landing, knowing any moment he might be sprinting across the grass, making a high-stakes medical decision under the scrutiny of a global audience.

“You’re often working with incomplete information,” Catterson said in a recent interview with Medscape Medical News. “But indecision is a bad decision. You have to make an educated call based on what you see and what you’ve learned from experience.”

Structured Chaos

Elite sports medicine is in many ways a world apart: fast, unpredictable, and often resource-rich, driven by the need to optimize performance and minimize downtime. Yet as medicine continues to evolve, the lessons from this high-pressure environment are proving increasingly relevant to physicians in general practice. Rapid clinical assessments, effective risk stratification, calm leadership, and evidence-based innovation are not exclusive to stadiums. They are essential tools in any clinic, urgent care center, or emergency department.

“I approach injuries the same way on the field as I do in the clinic,” said Bruce Miller, MD, MS, an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who treats college athletes playing American football, ice hockey, rugby, and other sports. “The key difference is time and resources. On the field, we make decisions instantly, without imaging or labs. It forces you to hone your instincts, and that’s something any doctor can benefit from.”

The most striking difference between pitch-side and clinical medicine is immediacy. “What you don’t have on the pitch is history,” Catterson said. “You don’t know what’s happened after the injury, whether it’s swollen or locked. You have to rely on what you saw, what the athlete tells you, and one or two exam techniques that you trust implicitly.”

Catterson, who was previously a consultant in a Newcastle emergency department, said experience and pattern recognition are critically important for success in his pitch-side role.

“One of my old mentors said it best: Always make a decision. Even if it’s not perfect, it’s better than hesitating. I’ve been caught out before, thinking a knee was fine when it was actually a torn [anterior cruciate ligament] ACL,” he said. “You develop a healthy suspicion” for events or movements likely to cause serious injury.

Video replay helps, too. English Premier League teams now use dedicated medical video operators during games. “I can watch the mechanism of injury back within seconds,” Catterson said. “Was it valgus? Was there rotation? It helps me direct the physio during their on-field assessment.”

Miller said he leans heavily on the “time-zero” exam. “The best information you’ll ever get is within 60 seconds of the injury. Before the joint stiffens, before pain escalates. That physical exam, when you’re fresh off the injury, is gold.”

Immediacy demands confidence. “There’s no room for dithering,” said Rob Broomhead, MD, a consultant anesthetist who covers NFL games and major boxing events in the UK. “We’ve had players with open fractures, collapsed lungs, cardiac arrests. You’re exposed, with 60,000 people watching, and in the NFL’s case, 20 American doctors and a legal team analyzing your every move. You have to know what you’re doing. There’s no luxury of second-guessing.”

Moving Beyond RICE

The traditional tools of immediate injury care — rest, ice, compression, elevation — are being re-evaluated in elite settings. “RICE was a good starting point, but evidence has moved on,” Catterson said. “We’re now looking at optimizing tissue healing, not just reducing symptoms.”

For instance, the medical staff at Newcastle United use biomarker analysis extensively. “We look at high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, inflammatory cytokines, muscle enzymes,” Catterson said. “We match those to GPS data, distance covered, and sprint load. That helps us detect overtraining early or identify if a player is struggling to recover.”

And ultrasound, once confined to hospital radiology departments, is now a pitch-side essential. “It’s my stethoscope,” he said. “I’ll take the history, do the exam, then scan the joint on my iPad with a wireless probe. It’s changed the way I practice.”

Miller, however, is less likely to call for imaging so quickly. “We’re relying less on fancy diagnostics and more on fundamental skills,” he said. “We’ve realized how much can be missed if you jump to imaging too fast without a thorough physical examination. A good exam is irreplaceable.”

Bright Lights, Big Stages

But pitch-side care is not only about practicing medicine; the ability to manage chaos is a critical skill. “While our focus is singularly on the injured athlete, there are many potential distractions,” Miller said. “It’s the noise, the crowd, and the cameras. You have to block that all out and focus on the athlete. That takes discipline and experience.”

Michigan Stadium, home of the Wolverines, is known as “The Big House” for a reason: the arena can hold over 115,000 fans — the most in the Western Hemisphere and the third largest in the world. “Everything is televised, and there’s zero margin for error,” Miller said. “But the standard of care has to be the same whether I’m in the stadium, in my clinic, or at a rural rugby ground. That’s the expectation.”

Catterson agreed. “You learn to stay calm under pressure. Emergency medicine taught me that, and I brought it into football. We drill scenarios constantly — cardiac arrest, spinal injuries, airway compromise. Everyone has a role. It’s like a Formula One pit crew.”

Broomhead, who manages critical trauma cases on the roadside and in elite sports, said a team dynamic is crucial. “The best sports coverage now mirrors trauma care,” he said. “Clear leadership, well-rehearsed roles, and constant training. Tottenham Hotspur, for example, has what’s basically a mini emergency department under the stadium” in London, England, where the Premier League team plays.

From the Stadium to the Surgery

So what, precisely, can everyday clinicians take from this world?

First, decisive action. “In general practice, you’re often unsure,” Catterson said. “But that’s no excuse for paralysis. Make a plan. Use your tools. One test that you trust for each joint. Anterior drawer for the knee, external rotation for the shoulder, whatever works, have it ready.”

Second, structured frameworks. The Football Association’s mandatory pitch-side training ATMMiF — short for Advanced Trauma Medical Management in Football — borrows heavily from emergency medicine and Advanced Trauma Life Support. “ABCDE, secondary survey, spinal precautions,” Catterson said. “These are things any clinician can adapt to their setting such as urgent care, clinics, sports days at schools.”

Third, the value of preparation. “We rehearse emergencies relentlessly,” Broomhead said. “Even in primary care, there’s no reason not to run drills, collapse in the waiting room, anaphylaxis, sudden breathlessness. You’re only as good as your last rehearsal.”

Fourth, embrace technology. “Musculoskeletal ultrasound, wearable sensors, portable diagnostics — they’re no longer expensive luxuries,” Catterson said. “If you can learn to use them, they’ll change how you practice.”

And finally, embrace the patient as a person, not just a case. “In elite sport, we know our athletes inside out,” Miller said. “Their personalities, their pain thresholds, and how they react to setbacks. That relationship makes all the difference in providing care under pressure.”

A Converging Frontier

Elite sports medicine has always been on the edge: rapid, reactive, and relentless. But in its evolution lies something transferable: a distillation of clinical decision-making under pressure, grounded in experience, and guided by structure.

In a healthcare system strained by time, complexity, and demand, the lessons from the sideline may be just what the clinic needs.

“I really don’t see two worlds anymore, just one continuum of care,” Miller said. “Whether you’re treating a Premier League striker or a construction worker with a torn meniscus, you’re trying to help them recover and return to what they love doing.”

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey program and C. Lloyd Bauer ’55 Endowed Head Coach Eric Lang have announced the addition of 19 newcomers ahead of the Engineers’ 2025-26 campaign. This year’s incoming class is comprised of ten freshmen and nine transfers, including two graduate students. The group features 10 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders, bringing a diverse blend of NCAA experience and junior success from leagues such as the USHL, BCHL, AJHL, NAHL, and OHL—as well as international competition from Europe’s top junior circuits.

“We are incredibly excited about this recruiting class,” said Coach Lang. “We’ve identified hard skill and high character players from winning programs who will not only set the standard for how RPI hockey needs to play today but while also lay the foundation for our future. We have players that have an opportunity to play and be a part of a special RPI hockey fraternity. We can’t wait to coach and develop this special group.”

Presenting the 2025-26 RPI Men’s Hockey newcomers, in alphabetical order:

Ethan Bono – Junior (Transfer – Merrimack College)

Center – 6’3″ – Port McNeill, British Columbia

Bono arrives in Troy after a two-year stint at Merrimack College. The 6’3″ centerman appeared in 62 games for the Warriors, recording 18 points in Hockey East play. Prior to college, Bono developed in the BCHL with Alberni Valley, where he posted three straight double-digit goal seasons, including a 17-goal, 20-assist effort in 2022-23.

Bruno Bruveris – Junior (Transfer – Miami University (Ohio))

Goalie – 6’1″ – Riga, Latvia

Bruveris offers a wealth of international and collegiate experience between the pipes. A two-year starter at Miami (Ohio), he made 34 appearances from 2023–25, stopping over 780 shots. Prior to the NCAA, he played three years in the USHL with Cedar Rapids and represented Dinamo Riga in the KHL. Known for his athleticism and composure, Bruveris also played for Latvia’s national junior team.

Matthew Buckley – Freshman

Right Wing – 5’11” – Ottawa, Ontario

Buckley joins RPI after four years in the OHL with the Oshawa Generals, where he amassed 113 points in 237 games. His breakout year came in 2023-24, when he scored 30 goals and added 21 assists.

Cole Gordon – Junior (Transfer – Arizona State University)

Forward – 6’1″ – Windsor, Colorado

Gordon spent two seasons at Arizona State, appearing in 64 games and contributing five points in the NCHC. He previously developed with the NAHL’s Minnesota Wilderness, where he saw significant year-over-year growth, culminating in a 22-point campaign in 2022-23.

Jack Gorton – Junior (Transfer – Boston University)

Right Wing – 6’3″ – Granite Springs, New York

Gorton arrives in Troy from Boston University, where he spent the 2024-25 season. Prior to his time in Hockey East, he enjoyed two productive campaigns in the BCHL with Victoria, posting 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 2022-23.

Landen Hilditch – Freshman

Defenseman – 6’3″ – Surrey, British Columbia

Hilditch brings a physical, shutdown style after spending multiple seasons in the BCHL. He combined for 20 points across 57 games between the West Kelowna Warriors and Penticton Vees in 2024-25. A steady presence on the back end, Hilditch complements RPI’s mix of veteran and rookie defensemen.

Matthew Jovanovic – Freshman

Defenseman – 6’2″ – Toronto, Ontario

Jovanovic returns to the ice after last suiting up with the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL.

Thomas Klassek – Freshman

Defenseman – 6’0″ – Klagenfurt, Austria

Klassek brings European experience to the blue line, having played professionally with Klagenfurt AC in Austria. He recorded 17 points in the AlpsHL in 2023-24 and skated in 18 games with the senior team in Austria’s top division during 2024-25.

Nate Krawchuk – Freshman

Goalie – 6’2″ – Thunder Bay, Ontario

Krawchuk joins the Engineers after three seasons with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, where he logged 88 total appearances. He registered a 19-20-5 record and made 1,335 saves in 2024-25, including four shootout appearances.

Jackson Kyrkostas – Freshman

Center – 5’11” – West Palm Beach, Florida

Kyrkostas comes to RPI following two standout years with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors. In 2024-25, he led the team in assists (44) and posted 57 points in 54 games after recording 48 points the previous season.

Lucas Lemieux – Freshman

Defenseman – 6’4″ – Edmonton, Alberta

Lemieux is a towering left-shot defenseman who totaled 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 53 games with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL in 2024-25. He also spent time with Camrose of the AJHL earlier in his junior career. Known for his puck-moving skills and offensive upside from the blue line, Lemieux adds size and scoring punch to the defensive corps.

Alfred Lindberg – Junior (Transfer – American International College)

Center – 5’11” – Hallsberg, Sweden

Lindberg adds experience down the middle after playing the last two seasons at American International College. He recorded 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in just 20 games as a junior and added another 11 points in his senior campaign. A product of Sweden’s junior system and the NAHL’s New Mexico Ice Wolves, Lindberg brings a balanced scoring and two-way presence to the Engineers’ forward group.

Trevor Russell – Graduate (Transfer – Michigan Tech)

Defenseman – 6’2″ – Old Hickory, Tennessee

A seasoned NCAA blueliner, Russell played 72 games for Michigan Tech over three seasons. Known for his stay-at-home style, he registered seven assists in 2023-24 and brings CCHA postseason and NCAA Tournament experience to Troy. Russell previously played in the NAHL with Aberdeen, including a breakout 35-point campaign in 2020-21.

Ian Scherzer – Freshman

Center – 5’11” – Villach, Austria

Scherzer played the 2024-25 season in the USHL with the Madison Capitols, where he recorded 20 points in 39 games. Previously, he developed through Rogle BK’s Swedish junior system and brings international exposure to the lineup.

Filip Sitar – Sophomore (Transfer – University of Connecticut)

Center – 5’11” – Ljubljana, Slovenia

Sitar transfers to RPI after one season at UConn, where he skated in 31 games. A former standout in Sweden’s junior ranks, he produced 50 points with Malmö’s U20 team in 2023-24 before joining the Redhawks in the SHL. Sitar also has professional experience in Sweden’s second division.

Kazimier Sobieski – Sophomore (Transfer – UMass Amherst)

Defenseman – 6’0″ – Deerfield, Massachusetts

Sobieski comes to RPI following an impressive 2024-25 season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, where he totaled 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 38 games. He also spent part of the year with UMass-Amherst, appearing in five games. A puck-moving blueliner with offensive instincts, Sobieski posted 24 points the prior season with Sioux Falls and brings high-end junior and NCAA experience.

Gunnar Van Damme – Junior (Transfer – University of Alaska-Anchorage)

Defenseman – 6’0″ – Pittsford, New York

Van Damme adds depth and physicality to the defensive unit after two seasons at Alaska-Anchorage. He played in 68 games for the Seawolves, notching 16 points, including six this past season. His path to college included stops in the NAHL and OJHL, where he contributed over 50 points and established himself as a dependable two-way presence.

Tyler Wallace – Junior (Transfer – Niagara University)

Forward – 6’2″ – Calgary, Alberta

Wallace joins RPI as a transfer from Niagara University, where he tallied 56 points over two seasons. The Calgary native had back-to-back productive campaigns in Atlantic Hockey, including 13 goals and 17 assists in 2023-24, followed by 14 goals and 12 helpers in 2024-25. Prior to Niagara, Wallace was a prolific scorer in the AJHL, notching 84 points (42 goals, 42 assists) in 2022-23 with the Blackfalds Bulldogs.

Luciano Wilson – Graduate (Transfer – Minnesota State)

Forward – 5’10” – Duncan, British Columbia

Wilson brings over 100 games of collegiate experience from Minnesota State, where he totaled 39 points across three seasons, including 13 points in 2024-25. Prior to his NCAA career, Wilson dominated the BCHL, posting 75 points in 2021-22 with Penticton and 53 with Cowichan Valley in 2019-20.

 

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary men’s gymnastics team continued to build upon the program’s outstanding legacy of academic excellence with the selection of 17 gymnasts as College Gymnastics Association (CGA) Academic All-Americans.

Additionally, W&M placed sixth nationally in the team standings with a combined grade point average of 3.43. 

W&M’s first-team honorees include: Alex Grapsas, Connor Barrow, David Moroney, Evan Sikra, Gavin Zborowski, Jonathan Irwin, Jared Noyman, Mark Fu, Michael Weiner, Niko Greenly, Will Harrington and Zachary Patrick.

Evan Wilkins, Luke Tully, Matthew Navarro, Ricky Pizem and Sam Lee garnered second-team distinction.

W&M’s success continues a long-standing tradition of excellence in the classroom by Tribe men’s gymnasts, as the program won the national academic team titles in 1991, 1992, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, while placing second nine times (1994, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2022).

Additionally, W&M has finished third on five occasions (1999, 2006, 2011, 2017, 2024).

W&M’s nine academic titles rank second, just two behind Stanford.

College Gymnastics Association’s Top 10 Academic Teams

1.     Stanford – 3.70