Meet The Team

Medical Director

Matthew Heckler, D.O.
Overseeing the Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM) program is Matthew Heckler, D.O., orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist with Orthopedic Associates of Southwestern Ohio (OASWO). Dr. Heckler and the OASWO group have a Sidney office located on the Wilson Memorial Hospital campus to provide convenient, high quality, orthopedic care to the community.

"I am honored to serve as medical director of WMSM," said Dr. Heckler. "But, the strength of this program is fueled by our athletic trainers, local coaches, and athletic directors. It really is a partnership between all entities in order to provide the elite level care the local athletes deserve and trust."

Dr. Heckler has a special interest in the sports medicine field and has served as the team physician for many professional sports teams, including: MLB Minnesota Twins; NFL Minnesota Vikings; NBA Minnesota Timberwolves; NHL Minnesota Wild; WNBA Minnesota Lynx; and NLL Minnesota Swarm. Currently, he serves as the head team physician for the newly formed Dayton Dutch Lions Soccer Club, a professional soccer organization affiliated with the Dutch National Champions FC Twente club.

"I was raised in a rural farming community in Illinois and I was active in both high school and collegiate sports," said Dr. Heckler. "Now I am able to continue my passion for athletics through the sports medicine care of our local athletes."

Dr. Heckler earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed his sports medicine fellowship at the TRIA Orthopaedic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Dr. Heckler completed his residency at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio through Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Dr. Heckler is a member of Wilson Memorial Hospital's medical staff and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Osteopathic Association, and the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Athletic Trainers

Stephanie Swiger, ATC, LAT
Stephanie is a certified and licensed athletic trainer with Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM). In addition to being a member of WMSM, she is the head athletic trainer at Lehman Catholic High School.

Stephanie received her bachelor's degree in sports medicine from Urbana University, Urbana, Ohio, where she majored in athletic training. Prior to joining WMSM, Stephanie worked at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio, as an athletic trainer responsible for Spencerville High School and Temple Christian High School. She developed field experience at Urbana High School in their basketball and wrestling programs, West Liberty High School in all sports, Sidney High School in all sports, Excel Sports Medicine Physical Therapy Clinic at Springfield Regional Medical Center, Springfield Orthopedics, and Urbana University in football, men's basketball, men's soccer and baseball.

Stephanie is a member of National Athletic Trainers Association, Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association and the Sports Medicine Association at Urbana University.

Cassandra "Cassy" Beardsley, ATC, LAT
Cassy is a certified and licensed athletic trainer with Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM). In addition to being a member of WMSM, Cassy is the head athletic trainer for Anna High School.

Cassy received her bachelor's degree from Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio, where she majored in athletic training/health education/physical education and minored in wellness and corporate fitness. Currently, she is working towards obtaining her master's degree in education from Defiance College.

Prior to joining WMSM, Cassy worked with the Orthopedic Hospital of Lutheran Health Network that serves 23 counties in northeastern Indiana and northwestern Ohio. She provided athletic training coverage for both area high school and college athletic events and assisted the sports medicine team with patient rehabilitation.

While attending college, Cassy served as the assistant athletic trainer for Defiance College and provided coverage for men's and women's soccer, men's and women's indoor track and baseball. She gained her field experience by providing athletic training services for Ohio high schools including, Patrick Henry High School in Hamler, Ohio, Napoleon High School in Napoleon, Ohio and Fairview High School in Dayton, Ohio. From 2004-2007, she provided athletic training coverage for the summer Empire State Games in New York, the largest competition of its kind in the nation. The multi-sport event is for amateur athletes, patterned after the Olympic program.

Kristi Weddelman, ATC, LAT
Kristi Weddelman is a certified and licensed athletic trainer with Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM). In addition to being a member of WMSM, she is the head athletic trainer at Houston High School and Sidney Christian Academy.

Kristi received her bachelor's degree in athletic training, wellness and corporate fittness with a minor in sports management from Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. Additionally, she  received her master's degree in athletic training from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Prior to joining WMSM, Kristi was a staff athletic trainer with Kettering Sports Medicine Center. She outreached as head athletic trainer for Sidney High School. Kristi also worked in a clinical setting with orthopedic surgeons as a physician extender and provided coverage for different community events. While obtaining her master's degree, Kristi served as the head athletic trainer at New Lexington High School.

Kristi is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the Ohio Athletic Trainers' Association.

Diane Alexander, ATC, LAT
Diane is a certified and licensed athletic trainer with Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM). In addition to being a member of WMSM, she is the head athletic trainer at Fort Loramie High School.

Prior to joining WMSM in 2011, Diane served as the Head Athletic Trainer at Coldwater Exempted Village Schools where she was responsible for 12 men's and women's sports for all levels, including football, women's soccer, wrestling and basketball. Prior to her position at Coldwater schools, Diane served as the Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. She assisted 20 collegiate sports with specific athletic training coverage for women's soccer, women's basketball, softball, track and field and tennis.

Diane received her bachelor of science in Athletic Training and Wellness and Corporate Fitness from Defiance College, Defiance, OH. She then went on to receive her master of science degree from McDaniel College where she specialized focus in Exercise Science.

Diane is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the Ohio Athletic Trainers' Asssociation.

Kristen Higgins, ATC, LAT
Kristen is a certified and licensed athletic trainer with Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM). In addition to being a member of WMSM, she is the head athletic trainer at Botkins High School and Jackson Center High School.

Prior to joining WMSM in 2011, Kristen served as the Graduate Assistant to the Head Athletic Trainer at the University of North Texas (UNT) - Division I NCAA Athletics. She worked with all sports offered at UNT with her primary assignment being football.

Kristen has a wealth of athletic training experience at the high school level and has served as Head Athletic Trainer for high schools throughout the states of Texas and Ohio.
She received her bachelor of science degree in Education - Athletic Training from Wright State University. She then went on to receive her master of science degree from University of North Texas with a specialized focus in Kinesiology.

Kristen is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the Ohio Athletic Trainers' Asssociation. She is certified through the American Red Cross First Aid, CPR, AED for Professional Health Care Provider as well as ASHI Certified Instructor First Aid, CPR, AED for Professional/Basic Rescuer.

Melissa Noble, ATC, LAT
Melissa is a certified and licensed athletic trainer with Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM). In addition to being a member of WMSM, she is the head athletic trainer at Fairlawn High School and provides assistance at Sidney High School.

Prior to joining WMSM in 2011, Melissa served as the Assistant Athletic Trainer/Clinical Adjunct Instructor for Wilmington College in Wilmington, OH. She provided full-time coverage to specific sports including: volleyball, football, cross-county, swimming, wrestling.

Melissa has a wealth of athletic training experience at the high school level and has served as Head Athletic Trainer for high schools throughout Ohio. She received her bachelor of science degree in Athletic Training from Wilmington College.

Melissa is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the Ohio Athletic Trainers' Asssociation. She is a certified American Red Cross Instructor for Professional Rescuer/Lay Responder CPR, AED, and Oxygen.

Beth Inman, ATC, LAT
Beth is a certified and licensed athletic trainer with Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM). In addition to being a member of WMSM, she is the head athletic trainer at Sidney High School.

Prior to joining WMSM in 2011, Beth served as an Athletic Trainer through St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima, OH. Before working at St. Rita’s, Beth served as an Athletic Training Student at Wright State University in Dayton, OH, working closely with NCAA Division I women’s volleyball, track, cross country and men’s and women’s tennis.

Beth received her bachelor of science in Education and Human Services degree in Athletic Training Wright State University.

Beth is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the Ohio Athletic Trainers' Association. She is certified through the American Red Cross for CPR and AED.