ISU Gymnast Giving Back to School

AMES, Iowa- The challenges and responsibilities student-athletes face are immense. Successfully balancing academics and athletics can be a daunting task. However, Ceilia Maccani is doing that and more.

The senior gymnast, when not in class or competing in the gym, volunteers her time with the physical therapy department in the Lied Recreation Center at Iowa State.

The health and human performance major has a pre-physical therapy concentration and started volunteering in the Lied Center after having treatment done for various injuries accumulated through the years.

“I wanted to get some experience, just watch and see exactly what they do, get some behind the scenes glimpses because I've actually had physical therapy done on me,” Maccani said.

In the Lied physical therapy office, Maccani was able to work directly with patients, gaining a sense of what a career in physical therapy entails.

“I not only observed what they did, but was also able to run some patients through exercises,” Maccani said. “It's really beneficial to be able to have such valuable experience early on.”

Maccani's work with the physical therapy department has not gone unnoticed.

“As a student-athlete Ceilia has a really good understanding of exercise and rehab,” Lied Center Physical Therapist Dabney Larson said. “As a gymnast, she's had injuries in the past and is good at helping the patients because she's familiar with what it's like to be injured.”

Maccani, a Racine, Wis., native is also familiar with success in the classroom and gym. She garnered All-Big 12 honors for her academic performance and her uneven bars routine last season.

“Balancing school and my responsibility to the team can be challenging at times,” Maccani said. “It takes a lot of time management, but I'm still able to regulate everything from homework to practice.”

While Maccani maintains a busy schedule, the experience has been a rewarding one.

“The opportunity has been truly invaluable, I really enjoyed working with everyone over in the Lied Center,” she said. “They really helped me learn a lot about my future field.”

The physical therapy staff was very impressed with her strong work ethic and commitment to the job.

“I think it's positive for our patients that are here to see that she's giving back to the university and doing a good job of representing Iowa State outside gymnastics,” Larson said. “She's done a really good job for us.”