Ben Snyder

Ben arrived in El Paso in 2013 after graduating from Missouri Valley College with a bachelor's degree in athletic training. From 2013-2015, he attended UTEP and worked as a GA AthleticTrainer under Dawn Hearn with the UTEP football team & women's golf team. During this time, he completed his master's degree in educational leadership. Following UTEP, he was the Head Athletic Trainer at Anthony ISD for 3 years, Sports Medicine/HST Instructor & EPISD sub-athletic trainer for the next 4 years. Ben has completed his doctorate in athletic training from A.T. Still University and is currently an Associate Professor at New Mexico State University in the masters of athletic training program since 2022. Ben has been a SCATA member since 2014 and has served as Vice President and President for the past 4 years. He is married to Sadie and has 2 awesome kids, Scarlett and Oliver. 

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Jacob Waldecker

My name is Jacob Waldecker and I'm currently the Head Athletic Trainer for Horizon High School in El Paso, TX. I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2017. My first job was through a PT clinic contracted out to a 6A high school, Madison Central. I made the move to Texas in January of 2020 first to Tyler, TX where I was a solo AT at Mineola ISD. From Tyler I made the move to Horizon where I have been since August 2020. I plan to further my education with a masters degree soon.

I decided to join SCATA in 2021 and love the ability to interact with other ATs I don't always run into during the school year. Learning from experienced ATs and adopting their ideas to improve my craft to the best of my ability.

I recently got engaged to my beautiful fiancé Diana in Santorini Greece in the summer of 2024. We live with our 3 dogs Bailor, Darwin, and Kiwi. We are planning our wedding for June 2025.

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​Michelle Moe-Villa

Bio Coming Soon​

 

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Manny Gurrola

Manny Gurrola is a proud Socorro, Texas native and a 2010 graduate of San Elizario High School. He continued his education at Texas A&M University, where he earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Basic Exercise Physiology and his Master’s degree in Athletic Training. His graduate research focused on helmet impact monitoring systems in Division I football helmets, utilizing the Head Health Network.

While in graduate school, Manny had the opportunity to work with several high-level athletic programs, including A&M Football (Gator Bowl Champions ’18), Softball, and Women’s soccer. He also completed a high school immersion at College Station High School under the guidance of preceptors Chelsea Frashure and Ross King.

After completing his program, he returned home to his alma mater during the 2020 school year, where he was part of an exciting time in athletics—highlighted by a Cross Country State Championship (They let him hold the trophy, it was a good time). The following year, he joined the staff at El Dorado High School working along side Patrick Solis and his High School Mentors “Jose “JOSER” Rojas (Pebble Hills), and Chris “Danger” Lopez (R SAC).

Mr. Gurrola holds multiple professional qualifications including Board of Certification (ATC) Texas state licensure (LAT), as well as specialized training as a Hesch Method Sacroiliac Joint Practitioner (HSP), Fascial Abrasion Technique, Synergy Performance Taping, and Active Release Techniques.

Fun Fact: He enjoys pina coladas…. AND getting caught in the rain.

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Emilio Araujo

Emilio is an El Paso native who graduated from Cathedral High School.  He is on his 4th term as SCATA President.  Before that he was Public Relations Representative for 2 years. He graduated with his Bachelors from the Athletic Training Education program at New Mexico State University in 2004.  He started his athletic training career at Irvin High School In 2006 and was there for 8 years. He received the Manny Pacillas Award through SCATA in 2014.  He is now in his 5th year at Coronado High School.

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Victoria Morris

Victoria is a recent citizen of El Paso, moving here in 2022 to take a job as an athletic trainer at Fort Bliss with the 11th Air Defense Artillery. She is from Palestine, TX on the whole other side of the state. Victoria received her bachelor's degree in Athletic Training and Education from UT-Arlington in 2015. She then took a year to work as an assist. athletic trainer at El Campo HS in 2015-2016. Going back to grad school for a master's in Health and Human Performance and Sports Administration (Northwestern State University c/o 2018) , Tori has since worked at Kemp High School (2018-2020), Elkhart High School(2020-2021), Baylor Scott and White/TX Spine & Joint Hospital(2022), and Tyler Junior College (2022). 

 

Since moving to El Paso, Tori has spent 2.5 years as a military athletic trainer and as a substitute AT for EPISD. She is also the medical director for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Sports Committee. She continues to volunteer her time with Justin Sports Medicine and T-Spoon Rodeo Sports Medicine.

 

I joined SCATA to help the El Paso area become the next best place to live and work as an athletic trainer. I want to help promote this profession and help the high school, college, and non-traditional ATs of the area.

 

Victoria is a proud dog mom to the world's cutest corgi, Johnnie Walker. When not working or at SCATA events, she enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants.

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