Dan Wagner has been a member of the Dakota Wesleyan University sports medicine team since 2001. He took over the role as the athletic training educational program director and has been instrumental in helping this program receive national accreditation through CAATE. Besides his role as a professor in the athletic training education program, he has many roles on selective committees across the DWU campus. He is a native of Webster, S.D., and his prior experience includes athletic training program director and head athletic trainer at Mount Marty College from 1997 to 2001. He also worked at Yankton Medical Center in Yankton from 1994 to 1997, providing athletic training services to MMC and Yankton High School, as well as working in the performance enhancement center and physical therapy departments. While at Mount Marty College, Wagner was a faculty member who taught athletic training and exercise physiology courses.

Wagner received his doctorate in education from the University of South Dakota in 2002. He completed his Master of Science degree from Indiana State University while serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the baseball team. He holds his undergraduate degree in athletic training from South Dakota State University, where he also served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for one year.

He holds credentials as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), a certified American Red Cross instructor in CPR and first aid, and has emergency response and professional rescuer skills. He also has distinction as an instructor trainer with the American Red Cross. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), the South Dakota Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

His primary athletic coverage responsibilities include the wrestling team.

Wagner and his family live in Salem, S.D.

Jarod Guthmiller, M.S., ATC
Head Athletic Trainer
605-995-2144
jaguthmi@dwu.edu

Jarod Guthmiller is the head athletic trainer and has been a member of the Dakota Wesleyan University athletic training staff since 2005. He is the coordinator of athletic training services for DWU athletics and is the main administrator for insurance claims, budget and inventory. He is the liaison with team physicians and the athletic department. Guthmiller also serves as an assistant professor in the natural sciences division and the athletic training education program. He is the staff athletic trainer in charge of football, men’s basketball and softball, while serving as the primary contact for men’s and women’s track, and the men’s and women’s golf teams.

Guthmiller, a Lesterville, S.D., native, graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in athletic training. In 2002, Guthmiller earned a Master of Science degree in exercise physiology from Middle Tennessee State University. While at MTSU, he worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. His responsibilities included clinical outreach for a local high school neighboring Nashville, Tenn. He was also an intern with the MTSU NCAA Division I football program during summer strength and conditioning camps.

From 2002 to 2005, Guthmiller worked at Si Tanka University in Huron, S.D. within the athletic training education curriculum as well as providing services as staff athletic trainer.

Guthmiller is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Mid-American Athletic Trainers’ Association and the South Dakota Athletic Trainers’ Association. He is a certified American Red Cross instructor in first aid, CPR, emergency response and professional rescuer skills.

Guthmiller and his family live in Mitchell.

Lana Loken has been a member of the Dakota Wesleyan University athletic training staff since 2001 and is the clinical education coordinator of the athletic training education program, as well as an assistant athletic trainer with Tiger athletics. She assumed this role in 2002, after one year as the head athletic trainer and instructor at DWU. Her primary sport coverage is with the volleyball team.

Loken, a native of Madison, S.D., earned a doctoral degree in educational administration from the University of South Dakota with an emphasis in adult and higher education. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree with honors in athletic training from South Dakota State University and received her Master of Science degree in sport management from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn.

Before joining the staff at DWU, Lana worked as a certified athletic trainer at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Wisconsin from 1999 to 2001, primarily providing services to local high schools and conducting summer conditioning and coach clinics. She also worked as a certified athletic trainer for the Gold Medal Gymnastic Club in Brookings in 1998 and 1999, and was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University while attending St. Cloud State University.

She holds memberships with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the South Dakota Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Mid-American Athletic Trainers’ Association, and is a certified American Red Cross instructor in first aid, CPR and sport safety training.

Loken and her family live in Mitchell.

Donna Gerlach, RN, is a 1985 graduate of the Dakota Wesleyan University Nursing Program and was hired by the university in the fall of 1999. As the campus nurse, Donna will consult with students concerning health matters, render certain health services as needed, and acts as a referral source for students who need medical care in Mitchell and the surrounding communities. She is an important member of the DWU sports medicine team who acts as a liaison with the athletic department and full-time students who need assistance in filing claims for their Student Assurance medical benefits. She also enjoys promoting wellness through educational displays on campus and conducting educational programs in the dorms. Her office is located in Prather Hall.

Randi Christensen has been a part of the Dakota Wesleyan athletic training staff since the fall of 2005. She served as the graduate assistant athletic trainer from 2005-07 before becoming full-time in the fall of 2007. Christensen serves as the assistant athletic trainer and is an instructor in the CAATE Accredited Athletic Training Program. She is the staff athletic trainer in charge of men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball and baseball.

Christensen graduated from South Dakota State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in athletic training and minors in nutrition and health education. She became a certified athletic trainer in April 2002. She earned a Master of Science degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in 2007.

Before coming to Dakota Wesleyan, Christensen spent one year at Si Tanka University where she covered Huron High School athletic teams. From 2003-05 she was employed at University Physical Therapy in Mitchell.

Christensen is a member of Member of the National Athletic Training Association, Mid-America Athletic Training Association and the South Dakota Athletic Training Association. She is also an instructor for the American Red Cross in First Aid, CPR, AED and Professional Rescuer.

Christensen and her husband, Charlie, live with their son in White Lake.