It was a just a shot in the dark. A chance, or a reach at best _ or so she thought. But it paid off in a very big way for Farrell High graduate Tammy Thomas.
Thomas was appointed one of the trainers for the track and field at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta this month.
Not bad for someone who sent in an application from a publication conerning the Olympics and her field _ sports medicine _ with little hope of getting a reply.
``I got all sorts of publications and I sent in an application last summer,'' said Thomas, 26. ``I didn't think they would contact me, but in March they called my parents' house and congratulated me.''
On the other end of the phone was Bill Whitehill, program manager of Athletes Medical Services, who told Thomas that she would be getting more information about her assignment in the mail soon.
``To me, it's an honor to be involved in the Olympics,'' said Thomas, a daughter of Carole Knight of Sharpsville and Daniel Knapp of Jamestown. ``This is the icing on the cake for my career. When they told me if I was still interested _ I thought it was joke. It was too good to be true.''
It was true for Thomas, who has been employed at Mark's Health and Fitness Klub as an assistant manager since last January.
Thomas was a four-year starter for coach Harriett Morrison as a member of the Farrell High girls volleyball team. After graduation in 1988, Thomas attended Waynesburg College on a volleyball and academic scholarship. She went on to receive her masters degree in sports medicine from Temple University in 1994.
Thomas then went to Pitt-Bradford, where she was a volleyball coach and an assistant sports trainer. But something was still missing; Thomas wanted more. ``I didn't want to waste my degree on just coaching,'' said Thomas.
Well, now she's not. Thomas will report to Atlanta on Friday and will work with the track & field from July 23 to Aug. 3.
``This is something I will always look back on for the rest of my life,'' Thomas said. ``The athletes are most visible in track and field at the Olympics. I hope I can communicate with all of the athletes from other countries.''
published Thursday, July 18,1996
