Athletes are 2.5 times more likely than the general public to develop nail fungus, according to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.  A condition that can disrupt training, change performance and end careers. However, until now, no thorough study has examined how nail fungus affects various sports.

Today, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals announced the launch of the first large-scale collaborative study focused on onychomycosis, a chronic fungal infection of the nails, among athletes.

While fans focus on visible injuries, nail fungus quietly undermines athletic performance in ways most people never consider.

When athletes are dealing with pain, nail damage or recurring infections, it can alter gait, reduce training consistency and ultimately affect competitive outcomes. This condition isn’t just about appearance; it’s about protecting athletes’ ability to perform at their best.”

James Voos, chairman of Orthopedic Surgery and the Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair at University Hospitals

The warm, moist environments created by intense training, restrictive footwear and shared facilities create perfect breeding grounds for fungal infections.

“There is very little data showing how common nail fungal infections are across different sports, despite the high risk among athletes,” said the study’s lead researcher Mahmoud Ghannoum, director of the Center for Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve. “Our goal with this research is to better understand the epidemiology and general insights that will inform improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies.”

The six-month study also includes UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute-the healthcare partner of the Cleveland Ballet, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Monsters-and Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health.

These partners will help identify and recruit 100 to 200 collegiate and professional athletes, allowing researchers to gather data across multiple sports. They will also raise awareness, facilitate survey distribution and assist with athlete screening and optional nail sampling for follow-up studies.

“This research represents a critical step toward keeping athletes healthy, competitive and at the top of their game,” Ghannoum said. “Every athlete deserves to compete without preventable conditions holding them back.”

The study begins this month, with initial results expected by June. Athletes will be surveyed through an electronic questionnaire that asks about nail appearance, discomfort during training or competition, impact on performance and previous treatments. The anonymous survey captures how toenail fungal infections affect daily activities, confidence and athletic function.

Future study phases will focus on advanced diagnostic tools and enhanced treatment protocols with applications extending beyond professional athletics. The research could particularly benefit military personnel and other groups facing similar risks from repetitive foot trauma, shared equipment and challenging physical environments.

Case Western Reserve and the City of Cleveland are uniquely positioned for this research because it brings together a high-volume sports medicine environment, a leading medical mycology center and direct access to professional, collegiate and youth athletic organizations. This combination allows researchers to study onychomycosis in athletes at a scale and level of clinical detail that is rarely available elsewhere.

BYRON, Minn. (KTTC) – Byron’s Hattie Mathre remembers her first time on the mat back in seventh grade

“We had like a Wednesday-day practice during Thanksgiving break, and I went,” she said. “I didn’t have any shoes, nothing; I didn’t even know anyone on the team.”

From that point on:

“She fell in love with it almost immediately, and the rest is history, so to speak, for her,” Byron wrestling head coach Ryan Radke said.

A passion years ago that has translated to success. Now a junior, Mathre is a reigning state runner-up and the current No. 2-ranked wrestler in the 136-pound weight class.

“To know that you have people that constantly look forward to watching you wrestle is just so encouraging and honestly such a thrill to know that you’re doing something you love but you’re also doing it well,” Mathre said.

She’s off to an undefeated start to the season — including a first-place finish at the highly competitive Hopkins Athena Invitational this weekend, and her 75th career win earlier this month.

“Having that milestone, knowing that she got 75, knowing that she can get to 100 is amazing,” Radke said. “To know that she’s done the work to get those wins — it’s not just about the wins, it’s about what goes into getting those wins.”

For Mathre, reaching such a milestone means a moment to reflect back on her seventh-grade self who found out she loved to wrestle.

“Seeing the progress that’s been made, it’s so encouraging in a way, and also it makes me excited for what’s to come,” she said.

Mathre and her dad have taken over the girls’ youth program at Byron. That’s just another way she’s helping blaze a trail for a team where she will be the very first girls wrestler to start in seventh grade and wrestle throughout. While she’ll go down as a winner, she hopes to be remembered for more.

“Radke is a huge storyteller, so he is just constantly telling us about all these guys who have come through the room,” she said. “Definitely just having the goal to be someone who gets a story told about them, because I’m leaving these things on the board and I’m leaving these banners, but truly just the character; being told the story that I was a super hard worker, or I was really welcoming, or I really gave back to the program.”

“Obviously you can have a ton of success,“ she added. ”But character is definitely the most important thing.”

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Dec. 15, 2025, 8:16 p.m. ET

Sturgis East’s Eva McNeil fights for the jump ball with Calvary Chapel’s Charlet Livingston during a game at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center in Hyannis, MA on Dec. 15, 2025.

Allen Gunn/Cape Cod Times

The Lycoming County 4-H program is expanding its animal science educational opportunities to help youth build stronger agricultural knowledge and gain valuable hands-on experience essential for the future of the industry.

According to a news release, this expansion is made possible by the $25,000 through the Williamsport Lycoming Competitive Grant Program at First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP).

“With this grant funding, Lycoming County 4-H will enhance its programming through traditional club settings, school-based activities, and a series of educational day camps and clinics,” the news release said. “The funding allows the program to acquire new educational materials, models, and simulators designed to increase understanding of the agriculture industry. These tools will give youth interactive and realistic learning experiences in areas such as animal husbandry, equipment use, and agricultural science.”

4-H volunteers will also benefit from having access to these materials, which they can borrow for club meetings to enrich their members’ experiences. The expanded resources will provide youth across the county with opportunities they may not otherwise have, helping bridge gaps in hands-on agricultural education.

According to the news release, a “key component of Lycoming County 4-H’s school programming–embryology–will also grow through this funding. In the embryology project, students observe the full 21-day process of hatching chicks, care for the incubators, and learn about animal life cycles. The purchase of additional equipment will enable the program to reach more classrooms and inspire greater agricultural literacy among students.”

Lycoming County 4-H promotes its programs and events through the county 4-H Facebook page, the monthly volunteer newsletter, the Penn State Extension website, and the 4-H enrollment platform, ZSuites.

Following the purchase of the new educational equipment, volunteer training sessions will be offered so that club leaders can explore the materials and learn how to integrate them effectively into their programming.

For more information about Lycoming County 4-H or upcoming educational opportunities, please visit the Penn State Extension website or follow Lycoming County 4-H on Facebook.

First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania works to improve the quality of life in north central Pennsylvania through community leadership, the promotion of philanthropy, the strengthening of nonprofit impact and the perpetual stewardship of charitable assets. For more information visit www.FCFPartnership.org.

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