Gearing up for the 161st Rivalry game – Lehigh Mountain Hawks vs. Lafayette Leopards
Whether you’re an avid athlete or enjoy an active lifestyle, getting sidelined from the game or your everyday routine because of an injury hurts. Fortunately, you have access to a team of sports medicine specialists who care for you every step of the way – from injury to rehabilitation and recovery. As the sports medicine partners for the only Division I schools in the region, Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute helps you get back to the activities you love.
It’s no surprise that Lafayette College and Lehigh University have one of the longest-standing rivalries in college athletics, dating back to 1884. Lehigh and Lafayette might be rivals in the sports realm, but what unifies the two schools is their continued partnership with sports medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health.
“They choose to stay with us year after year because our relationship is so strong,” says Nicholas Slenker, MD, orthopedic surgeon with Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute and sports medicine team physician for Lafayette.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the 161st rivalry football game between Lehigh University and Lafayette College will take place at Fisher Stadium in Easton. This game will determine the Patriot League champion and which team will have a guaranteed spot in the national Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.
“The Lehigh-Lafayette game is the one that always gets circled on the schedule,” says Daniel Terpstra, DO, orthopedic surgeon with Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute and sports medicine team physician for Lehigh University.
A passion for sports that began during childhood was the launchpad for Dr. Slenker and Dr. Terpstra to pursue the work they do today in the field of sports medicine.
In third grade, Dr. Terpstra came home with a “What do you want to be when you grow up?” school project. That was easy for him to answer – a sports doctor for the Phillies. Fast forward to his high school and college years, he wrestled and played football, landing his name in the Athletic Hall of Fame at Bangor High School and Muhlenberg College.
“I always loved the interaction I had with my trainers and coaches. Sports medicine is about relationships and understanding how I can work together with the athletes, coaches and trainers to navigate the waters from injury through recovery,” Dr. Terpstra says.
At Parkland High School, Dr. Slenker was team captain of the swimming team. The biggest lesson he learned in becoming a district champion swimmer was to put in hard work.
“My involvement in sports established my work ethic and gave me direction. Swimming was a springboard toward my success in medicine and eventually becoming a doctor,” Dr. Slenker says.
Of all the sidelines Dr. Slenker and Dr. Terpstra stood on throughout their careers in sports medicine, they are most proud to be back in their hometown helping athletes just like themselves overcome obstacles.
It can be tough news to hear that you’ll be out for a few games or even a whole season. A sport becomes a central part of an athlete’s life, so an injury during the season is devastating.
“Students who go through an injury often have a great perspective on it. Athletes already have an incredible work ethic, so they are invested in their journey to healing,” Dr. Slenker says. He believes time on the field is critical as a sports medicine doctor, so he attends all basketball and football games for Lafayette.
“I love working with the high-level college athletes at Lehigh. The students are determined to do whatever they can to get better and back on the field,” Dr. Terpstra says.
Dr. Terpstra works closely with the Lehigh University football and wrestling teams, attending all home games and traveling regularly for away games.
Both college team physicians help intermittently at other games for sports like lacrosse, soccer and baseball. Every week, Dr. Slenker and Dr. Terpstra also offer training rooms at their respective campuses. The training room is open to all college athletes to come and have an injury checked out, stretch or get ice.
“Students know they can get ahold of us anytime. They’ll see us at practices, at the games or the training room, and know that we are here for them and part of the team,” Dr. Terpstra says.
Neil Mathews, MD, Chief of Family Medicine with LVHN, part of Jefferson Health, was inspired to pursue sports medicine and primary care as an intern in the U.S. Navy. He saw how determined servicemen were to heal from their injuries. His involvement with their care and recovery was something he wanted to continue doing.
Those experiences, combined with his background of playing soccer from childhood through college, led him to become the primary care sports medicine team physician for Lafayette College. He handles non-orthopedic issues like illnesses, rashes, concussions and completes physicals for Lafayette players.
“I realize the importance of my role in keeping the team on the field but also protecting the players when it’s not safe for them to play,” Dr. Mathews says.
Gene Yoo, DO, primary care sports medicine team physician for Lehigh University and orthopedic sports medicine physician with Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, chose a career in medicine to honor his father who was a physician and an outdoorsman.
“I inherited these two passions from my father growing up,” Dr. Yoo says. “Sports medicine provided me with the intersection of connecting my passions and my community.”
