The University of the Southwest is pleased to announce the hiring of new Head Athletic Trainers Carla Potter and Victoria Perea to take over the Mustang Sports Medicine Program.  
 
"I am pleased to announce the hiring of Carla Potter as our new Head Athletic Trainer. I couldn't be happier to have her working with our student-athletes. I have had the privilege of working with her in the past, and I believe she is the right person to work with our kids on a daily basis" said Athletic Director Steve Appel on hiring Potter. 
 
Carla Potter is a 1999 alumni of USW and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. Potter is a nationally certified and state licensed Athletic Trainer who is a member of the NATA, RMATA, and NMATA. Carla has been married to her husband, Curtis, for 38 years. She began her athletic training career at Lovington High School in August of 1999 and was solely responsible for the care of 37 teams during that time. 
 
"I made a lot of friends there and was able to care for athletes that I watched grow up all the way through to their college careers. I even began caring for some of my original athlete's children," said Potter of her time at LHS. "I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and I am very grateful for the opportunity LHS afforded me. Although I was ready for a change, I knew that I wasn't ready to leave the profession I love, just yet."
 
"I am excited and very blessed with this opportunity to be a part of the Mustang athletic team." Said Potter about joining USW. "I am looking forward to providing the best possible athletic health care for our student-athletes. It is a great time to be a Mustang!" 
 
Victoria Perea is a recent graduate of New Mexico State University where she earned her Bachelor's of Science in Athletic Training. Perea is currently working towards her Master's Degree in Health and Human Performance at University of the Southwest. 
 
Head Athletic Trainer Carla Potter is excited to have Victoria working side-by-side with her and be able to mentor her. " It is with great pleasure I get to announce the hiring of Victoria Perea as our other Athletic Trainer. She graduated from NMSU in May and is a nationally certified and NM state licensed athletic trainer. She is a very talented and hardworking woman. Our athletes will have a full athletic training room to help them be the best they can be!" said Potter of the addition of Perea to the Athletic Training room. 
 
"I am excited to join the Athletic Department here at USW and I am looking forward to working with a great staff and motivated athletes" said Perea on her new position on campus. 
 
Athletic Director Steve Appel is very excited about the future of the Athletic Department with the addition of two new athletic trainers. "I'm happy that our students will get the help they need in staying healthy this upcoming fall. We have been short staffed for so long, and now we have the ability to have two trainers working together to better satisfy our needs. Carla will be a great mentor to Victoria and I look forward to working with them both."