Frye Regional Medical Center is proud to announce that Nicholas (Nick) Seiler, regional manager of sports medicine and community outreach, has been named the 2025 Elton Hawley Athletic Trainer of the Year by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. The award honors outstanding commitment to athlete care, leadership in the field and dedication to advancing best practices both on and off the field.

One of the most esteemed honors for secondary school athletic trainers in North Carolina, the award commemorates the legacy of Elton Hawley, one of the state’s first teacher-athletic trainers and a founding member of the North Carolina Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame. Hawley received the inaugural North Carolina Athletic Trainer of the Year Award in 1984, and the accolade continues to celebrate professionals who embody his pioneering spirit and standard of excellence.

Seiler began serving the Unifour region in 2004 when he joined Frye Regional as a full-time athletic trainer stationed at Alexander Central High School. In 2006, Seiler left Frye Regional to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Alabama. Seiler, soon after completing his master’s degree, accepted a full-time position within the university’s athletic department. He taught within the undergraduate Athletic Training Education program throughout his tenure. He then returned to Frye in 2014 to serve as the athletic trainer at Fred T. Foard High School.

Since then, he has been instrumental in expanding concussion care services across the region supporting the launch and development of FryeCare Orthopedics & Neurosurgery as the clinic’s first practice administrator in 2022. In his current leadership role, he continues to drive community health initiatives and education. In addition, Seiler oversees athletic trainers at Hickory High School, Fred T. Foard High School, South Caldwell High School and Hickory Christian Academy. Frye Regional employs onsite athletic trainers to promote student-athlete health and well-being through injury prevention, assessment and rehabilitation.

Most notably, Seiler has spearheaded quarterly continuing education symposiums for athletic trainers in Catawba County, in collaboration with Lenoir-Rhyne University and area high schools, helping to elevate the standard of care for student-athletes throughout the region.

“Nick is an inspiration to all of our staff,” said Dr. Philip Greene, chief executive officer of Frye Regional Medical Center. “His passion, leadership and tireless advocacy for athlete health have made a lasting impact. We’re thrilled to see his work recognized and honored with this award.”

Frye Regional is committed to support local student-athletes through its certified athletic trainers, who provide services ranging from injury prevention and on-field coverage to injury screenings and specialized treatment. As a supporter of the Foothills chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as an approved provider of continuing education for Certified Athletic Trainers through the Board of Certification, Inc., Frye Regional remains committed to excellence in athlete care and professional development.