Knoxville, Iowa – Soon the sounds of bodies hitting the mat, slapping of the cheerleader’s hands, and crowds cheering on their favorite wrestler will fill Wells Fargo Arena for the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament.
For Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (KHC) Family Medicine provider Dr. Tim McCoy, the State Wrestling Tournament means more than the heart-pounding excitement, it means a time to snap into action as a tournament physician.
For 21 years, Dr. McCoy and MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center physician Dr. Dennis Zachary have held the role of tournament physicians for the State Wrestling Tournament. As a tournament physician, Dr. McCoy is present for the entire tournament where he oversees the athletic trainers, assists in emergencies and assessment of injuries, and occasionally takes care of spectators in the stands.
Before becoming a tournament physician, Dr. McCoy had years of experience caring for athletes and knows what it takes to care for the health of the student-athlete. For many years, he was the team physician for Lincoln High School in Des Moines and Dr. Zachary held the same role at Dowling Catholic High School, which he still holds. When the former tournament physician retired, leaders at the athletic association inquired about them taking over the role. From there, a perfect partnership was formed.
“It has been an honor serving as a tournament physician all these years,” said Dr. McCoy. “I enjoy taking care of the wrestlers and the variety of injuries we can see daily. It’s an awesome responsibility to ensure their safety throughout the four days of the tournament. It’s also fun seeing the passion they have for their sport, and how they interact with their coaches, teammates, and families.”
For Dr. McCoy, the quick response of caring for sports injuries is just part of the training that he and other medical professionals receive. While he shares the athletic trainers handle most of the work, he and Dr. Zachary handle the big cases which can be fun, yet troublesome also.
“Through the years, we’ve seen a few crazy injuries like a cervical spine fracture, and my partner even had to do CPR on the mat for a wrestler for an undiagnosed heart condition. Luckily, he survived and did well. You will also see us have to re-locate joints on the mat sometimes or maybe disqualify a wrestler due to a head injury or suture up a head laceration,” shared Dr. McCoy. “That is why our training is so important. We never know what injuries we are going to see, but we are prepared to keep all athletes and spectators safe.”
Being part of the medical team and caring for the athletes involves collaboration with Dr. Zachary, the athletic trainers, and the coaches. For Dr. McCoy, these collaborations enhance the meaning and satisfaction he finds in his work.
“I love being part of the team,” he says. “It’s incredibly exciting when people who are so good at what they do work together to support the athletes to be the very best at what they do.”
The Iowa High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament runs February 19-22 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
As a Family Medicine provider at KHC, Dr. McCoy provides treatment of illnesses and injuries, health screenings and tests, physical exams, well-child and adolescent care, chronic care management, preventive care, sports medicine care, and other health care needs. He is accepting new patients. To inquire about establishing care with Dr. McCoy at KHC, please call (641) 842-7211.
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics is a non-profit community hospital serving Marion County and the surrounding area. Named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, KHC’s highly skilled medical staff and specialists provide personal, compassionate, and innovative quality health care to patients. For more information regarding this release and other happenings at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, call the Public Relations Department at (641) 842-1418.
