The International Finals Youth Rodeo is back for its 30th edition in Shawnee, Oklahoma at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center from July 10-15. Taylor Williams, a Tecumseh High School graduate, is a part of the onsite SSM Health sports medicine team at IFYR this year. As an athletic trainer, Williams helps the athletes with injuries they may sustain during the week.
Williams graduated from Tecumseh High School in 2015. She attended Seminole State College and earned an associate’s degree in science in 2017. She continued her education at the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science and a minor in psychology in 2019. Finally, she graduated with a master’s degree in athletic training at University of Central Oklahoma in 2021.
This is SSM Health’s second year being involved in IFYR. Williams covered last year’s rodeo and said she has looked forward to IFYR all year. “It is super cool to see young talent from all over the country competing just a few minutes from my hometown.” said Williams.
The SSM Health sports medicine team will spend the week providing “the best care possible to the kids performing here in Shawnee.” The athletic trainers help athletes with performance preparation, watch over the arenas during events, and provide post-performance treatment. Any athlete that needs an athletic trainer can go to their station or find a SSM Health team member. Matching mint colored shirts make them easily visible in the arenas.
In college, Williams worked with the Seminole State volleyball and men’s basketball teams and the track and field, tennis and football teams at OU. Currently, she works with the Potawatomi Fire through SSM Health. During the basketball offseason, she works with Shawnee area schools.
Williams grew up attending IFYR every year as a spectator, and said that working with SSM Health helped her fulfill her dream of covering the rodeo. “My favorite thing about covering rodeo is the uniqueness of the sport itself,” Williams said. “Growing up in Oklahoma, rodeo is a big part of the culture here.” Being an athletic trainer at a rodeo differs from other sports because “rodeo athletes are usually attached to a very large animal that we can’t control.” A rodeo event might not be able to be stopped like other sporting events can. She said extensive safety planning and effective communication is essential if an injured athlete needs help during an event.
Another difference Williams noticed about working with IFYR is the attire! While she usually wears athletic shorts and a T-shirt to work, SSM sports medicine team members at IFYR are wearing boots, jeans and a button-up shirt.
Her passion for sports guided Williams to choose a sports medicine career. She also enjoys giving back to Tecumseh. “When I was hired by SSM Health, I told our sports medicine manager that my goal was to return to my hometown and give back to the community that always gave to me,” said Williams.
The 30th annual IFYR features 965 entries from 32 states. Williams and the SSM Health sports medicine team worked with IFYR all week, providing “injury prevention, concussion management, injury rehabilitation, hydration and more” for rodeo athletes.
“There are a million moving parts to keep IFYR running,” said Williams. “I’m really honored to have my own small part in that, especially here in my hometown.”
