Jon Mitchell
Director of Athletic Training Services (Men's Basketball)
M.S. Gardner-Webb University 1998
B.S. Mars Hill University 1996
Jon Mitchell joined the sports medicine staff in 2014 as the Director of Athletic Training Sevices and serves the athletic trainer for the Appalachian State men's basketball team. Prior to joining the Mountaineers, Mitchell spent 15 years at nearby Gardner-Webb University, where he oversaw all athletic training operations and also was the athletic trainer for the men's basketball team in addition to the Runnin' Bulldogs men's cross country and track and field teams.
He also served as an Instructor and as a Preceptor in the athletic training major in the School of Preventive and Rehabilitative Health Sciences at GWU.
Mitchell previously served as head athletic trainer at Newberry College from 1998-2000. He earned his bachelor's degree from Mars Hill College and his master's from Gardner-Webb University. A native of New Jersey, Mitchell ran cross country at Mars Hill. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two sons, Payton and Camden.
Nathan Peck
Head Football Athletic Trainer
M.S. Long Beach State University 2006B.S. Northeastern University 1998
Nathan Peck joined the App State sports medicine staff in 2014. Nathan is a certified athletic trainer through the NATABOC since 1999 and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach through the NSCA since 2002. Peck came to Boone after working five years at the University of South Carolina as the assistant football athletic trainer. In his time at USC, Peck oversaw the rehabilitation and return to play of the Gamecocks. He recently developed a shoulder strengthening and throwing program for the quarterback position. In addition to his duties as a staff member he taught a Therapeutic Rehabilitation class and strength and conditioning class at the University of South Carolina. While at USC, the Gamecocks played in the 2010 SEC Championship, went to five consecutive bowls and finishing ranked in the Top 10 national rankings three times.
Prior to his position at USC, Peck worked at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Nathan assisted with football in addition to his primary coverage of the 2007 College World Series participant baseball team for one year and men's basketball for two. Much of Peck's athletic training background started in baseball, working for the 1998 Cape Code Baseball League Champion Cotuit Kettleers and then moving on to professional baseball. Nathan had to opportunity to be a minor league athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox at the AA Level for a season and Seattle Mariner's Advance A Level for three. After his last season with the Seattle Mariners in 2003 he was the head athletic trainer for the Cardinales De Lara of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League for a season.
Before working at Rice University, Peck went back to graduate school at Long Beach State University in California. He was responsible for the health care of the “Dirtbags” baseball team. Peck earned his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and hails from Biddeford, ME. Within Peck's career, he has been the athletic trainer for numerous NFL and MLB players. Peck and his wife Allison have a daugter, Skylar.
Claire Davis
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Tennis)
M.S. University of North Carolina at Greensboro 2011
B.S. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2009
Claire Davis joined the sports medicine in 2012 as an assistant athletic trainer. After serving as an intern athletic trainer at App State in 2011 for women's soccer, she now serves in a full-time capacity with the women's basketball team and the men's and women's tennis teams. She also oversees the daily operations of Varsity Gym athletic training room.
Claire completed her bachelors degree in exercise and sports science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2009 and earned her master of science in athletic training from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2011. Claire is originally from Greensboro, N.C. and now lives in Boone with her boyfriend Caleb.
Jimmy Strickland
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Wrestling, Cheerleading)
M.S. Troy University 2000
B.S. Auburn University 1997
Jimmy Strickland joined the App State sports medicine staff in 2013. He oversees the wrestling team as well as the cheer squad. Prior to working at App State Jimmy was an assistant athletic trainer at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC. While working at LMC Jimmy oversaw the care of the women's soccer team, women's basketball, cross country, track and field, and men's lacrosse. In addition to his work in the athletic training room he also taught classes for their athletic training program.
Jimmy and his family moved to Boone in spring 2010 and he spent two years as intern athletic trainer taking care of the wrestling team and one year taking care of the field hockey team. Prior to moving to Boone he was an assistant athletic trainer at Mississippi State University where he was responsible for care of the cross country/track and field team. He has also spent time teaching high school health and was the athletic trainer at Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, AL. He was also the Sports Medicine Coordinator for HealthSouth in Birmingham and Montgomery, AL supervising a team of athletic trainers and coordinating coverage for area high schools. He was also the head athletic trainer at Auburn University-Montgomery.
Jimmy became a certified athletic trainer in 1997 and has been working as a certified athletic trainer for approximately 17 years. He graduated from Auburn University in 1997 with a BS in Exercise Science. He completed his MS in 2000 from Troy University after working there for two years as a graduate assistant athletic trainer overseeing women's soccer. He has worked with numerous NCAA and NAIA All-Americans including Austin Trotman and Kyle Blevins, 2012 NCAA Wrestling All-Americans, from Appalachian State.
He is a native of Cullman, Ala. and is married to the former Sarah Churchill from Fairfax, Va. Sarah is currently the head coach for the women's soccer team at Appalachian State. They have three children Kelsey, Bo and Will and two dogs.
Maggie Berkowicz
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Women's Soccer, Cross Country, Track & Field)
M.S. Auburn University 2016
B.S. University of Delaware 2013
Maggie Berkowitz joined the App State sports medicine staff in 2016. She oversees women's soccer and track and field. Prior to working at App State Maggie spent 3 years with Auburn University where she spent two years working with Women's Tennis and Cheerleading and one year with Women's Soccer and Gymnastics.
Maggie completed her bachelor's degree in Athletic Training at University of Delaware in 2013 and earned her master's degree in Exercise Science from Auburn University. Maggie is originally from Lexington, MA and now lives in Boone.
Christina Biddle
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Baseball)
M.S. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 2015
B.S. Bridgewater College 2011
Christina Biddle joined the App State sports medicine staff in 2015. She comes from The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she was a graduate assistant athletic trainer with men's soccer, swimming & diving, and baseball. While there, she earned her Master's Degree in Professional Development with an emphasis in Health, Human Performance, and Recreation. While at Whitewater, she had the opportunity to work with the 2014 NCAA DIII Championship baseball team, an NCAA tournament qualifying soccer team, and numerous NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship participants.
Prior to working at Whitewater, Biddle was an assistant athletic trainer at Greensboro College in North Carolina from 2011-2013. She has also worked as an athletic trainer in the Valley Baseball League, a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball, since 2009. Biddle earned her Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training from Bridgewater College in 2011.
Taylor Young
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Assistant Football, Men's & Women's Golf)
M.S. North Carolina State University 2013
B.S. University of South Carolina 2011
Taylor Young joined the App State sports medicine staff in 2016 as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Mountaineer football team as well as caring for the men's and women's golf teams.
Young comes to Boone after providing medical care to the men's and women's soccer, women's basketball and tennis teams at William Peace University in Raleigh, NC. He has also previously worked in the clinic setting at Orthopaedic Specialist of North Carolina in Raleigh, NC as well as a stop at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. Young graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2011 with a B.S. in Physical Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training. He then earned his M.Ed from North Carolina State University in 2013. While at NC State Young primarily provided care to the Wolfpack softball team, including the 2013 ACC Champions.
Young is originally from Lexington, SC and now lives in Boone with his wife, Erin.
Medical Staff
Dr. Evan Ekman, MD
Dr. Ekman joined ARHS from his previous position as the President of Southern Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and the Medical Director of the Palmetto Health Alliance/ Parkridge Surgery Center.
Dr. Ekman completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Kentucky. He completed his surgical internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Wake Forest University, as well as fellowships at the National Institutes of Health and at Kerlan-Jobe Sports Medicine Clinic.
Dr. Ekman has over 50 peer-reviewed publications and has been an invited lecturer in over 60 countries around the world. He has performed surgery on many notable professional athletes and is the Gary G. Poehling Distinguished Alumnus in Orthopaedic Surgery of Wake Forest University.
Dr. Bill DeVault, MD
Dr. DeVault received his medical degree at Wake Forest University and did his residency at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
Dr. DeVault completed the Lacey Fellowship in Sports Medicine and Knee Reconstruction at the Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic in Orlando, Florida, which included work with the Orlando Magic NBA team.
In addition to his general orthopaedic practice, Dr. DeVault has also served students in NCAA Division I, Division II, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Secondary School Sports.
Elyse Adams, PA-C
Elyse C. Adams is licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to North Carolina in 2005 to attend North Carolina State University. She competed as a member of the NCSU Women's Gymnastics Team and was an NCAA Academic all-American. She graduated with her Bachelors of Science in 2009. She later attended East Carolina University where she received her Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2013. Her passion for orthopaedics and sports medicine developed from personal experience with injuries during her career as a nationally competitive gymnast, resulting in a desire to assist others in their return to optimum physical health and function. Elyse joined Appalachian Regional Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in July 2014.
Dr. Lauren Fontaine, DC
Dr. Lauren Fontaine joined the Sports Medicine staff during the Spring of 2014. She grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana and is an avid athlete. She graduated from Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, with a Bachelors Degree in Health and Exercise Science and completed her education at the prestigious Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, Florida.
Previously, Dr. Fontaine worked as an Associate Chiropractor in Columbia, South Carolina, and is now happy to make Boone her home. She moved to this area to be closer to her family and to enjoy the beautiful setting that the High Country provides. Dr. Fontaine is the owner of Appalachian Family Chiropractic in Boone, NC and may be contacted through www.appfamilychiro.com.
