TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has elevated Sophie Knittle to assistant athletic trainer, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Lee McElroy has announced. She is one of six trainers on the Engineers' staff, which is led by Chris Thompson.

"I am beyond excited to be at RPI as an assistant athletic trainer," Knittle said. "Over the past two years as an associate trainer, RPI Athletics has become like a second family to me. I truly lucked out on all fronts - between my amazing co-workers, working with our dedicated student-athletes and utilizing state-of-the-art facilities - I am happy to call this place home!"

A native of Swansey, N.H., Knittle has worked primarily with RPI's football and women's basketball teams since her arrival, while aiding in the treatment of student-athletes from all 23 intercollegiate teams.

Prior to joining the Rensselaer staff, she spent one year as an athletic training intern at the University of Hartford. Her primary sports responsibilities for the Hawks included women's volleyball and women's lacrosse, working with both teams through their traditional and non-traditional seasons.

Knittle graduated from Ithaca College in May of 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training. She worked with a number of Bombers athletic programs, including men's lacrosse, football, men's and women's soccer, men's basketball and men's and women's indoor track & field. Under the supervision of Ithaca College team physician Dr. Andrew Getzin, she also gained clinical education at Ithaca College Hammond Health Center.

She received the 2018 Rodney Dusinberre Award for hard work, commitment, and loyalty to the Ithaca College Athletic Training Program and earned a 2018 NYSATA scholarship. Knittle's research at Ithaca included the effects of Light Therapy on musculoskeletal injuries as well as a presentation of a Cubiod Stress Fracture in a female collegiate soccer player. She was also a Kinesiology teaching assistant.

Knittle's certifications include NATA, BOC, CPR/AED for the professional rescuer, American Red Cross First Aid/AED, American Red Cross Lifeguard, and New York State Athletic Trainers' Association.