Rachel Blakeman, M.A., ATC, who received her athletic training certification in 1997, joined the San Jose State Sports Medicine staff in October 2021 to provide healthcare for the SJSU Cross Country and Track and Field athletes. This marked a return to SJSU for Rachel, who earned her BS degree from SJSU in 1997 (Kinesiology – Athletic Training and Psychology), and her MA degree from SJSU in 1999 (Kinesiology – Movement Sciences – previously Biomechanics/Exercise Physiology). Rachel also has degrees in Psychology and Liberal Arts from Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA, where she began her athletic training internship before transferring to SJSU. While completing her athletic training internship and education at SJSU, Rachel worked primarily with softball and football.
Rachel was previously employed at Mission College in Santa Clara, CA where she worked primarily with the baseball and women’s basketball athletes. Prior to that, Rachel worked with the men’s and women’s rugby athletes at Stanford University, as well as all-star and club rugby teams in the San Francisco Bay Area. While at Stanford, Rachel received the Leslie Potts Award for her service to the team on and off the field. With rugby, Rachel has travelled to Ireland, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, and many US states.
Rachel was also at a 1-year intership at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, where she worked with women’s rowing, sprint kayaking, track & field, field hockey, soccer, and softball athletes, many of whom were on US National teams, and went on to compete at the Olympics. While at the USOTC, Rachel traveled to Santiago, Chile with USA Inline Speed Skating as the Team USA athletic trainer at the World Championships.
Since joining the SJSU staff, Rachel has taken courses in myofascial decompression (cupping), and is interested in continuing education in dry needling techniques, as well as blood flow restriction techniques. She is also considering returning to post-graduate education for a Doctorate in Athletic Training with one of the distance learning programs.