From Undergraduate Research to Nationally Recognized Scholarship

When Chase Rogers graduated from Westfield State University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training, he believed one of his most meaningful academic experiences had reached its conclusion. Instead, it became the foundation for nationally recognized research that continues to contribute to the field of sports medicine.

As part of his Commonwealth Honors Project, Rogers collaborated with Sports Medicine and Human Performance faculty members Dr. Paul Cacolice, Dr. Brian Selgrade, and Dr. Paul Higgins to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cutting Movement Assessment Score (CMAS), a screening tool promoted as a way to identify soccer players at greater risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

Throughout his senior year, Rogers collected and analyzed CMAS data alongside ground reaction force measurements. His research found that the assessment did not predict the ground reaction forces associated with ACL injury risk in an active population of college students.

“It was a very unique experience to develop skills in data analysis and critical thinking,” Rogers said. “Although I originally thought the test would predict ground reaction forces, the project deepened my understanding of research methodology and strengthened my ability to work independently. It also helped clarify my interests and strengths within sports medicine, guiding me toward the career I wanted to pursue.”

According to Dr. Hillary Sackett-Taylor, director of the Commonwealth Honors Program, Rogers' work demonstrated the caliber of undergraduate research possible at Westfield State.

“Chase's Commonwealth Honors Project exemplified the highest standards of undergraduate scholarship,” Sackett-Taylor said. “What stood out most was the rigor of his empirical approach and the confidence with which he engaged complex data analysis well beyond what is typically expected at the undergraduate level. His work reflected genuine promise as a future contributor to sports medicine research."

Following graduation, Rogers passed the National Board of Certification examination for athletic trainers, earned his master’s degree, and began clinical practice in Massachusetts. In 2025, he accepted a position with the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he now works in the Department of Orthopedics assisting with new patient evaluations.

Before relocating, Rogers reconnected with Cacolice to discuss his honors research and determine whether new developments in the field had changed its relevance.

“During the conversation, we decided to revisit this project with any new information that may have occurred since Chase’s Honors Presentation,” Cacolice said.  “Even in the fast-paced world of sports medicine research, the findings from his Commonwealth Honors Project held up well. The result was concise and clinically meaningful findings, worthy of consideration for a sports medicine-based conference.” 

Working together, Rogers, Cacolice, Selgrade, and Higgins refined the project into a research abstract that was accepted through a competitive peer-review process for presentation at both the 2026 Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Meeting in Boston and the 2026 National Athletic Trainers' Association Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Philadelphia. The abstract was also published in the May 2026 edition of the Journal of Athletic Training.

The project illustrates how undergraduate research at Westfield State can extend well beyond graduation, creating opportunities for students and faculty to contribute new knowledge to their disciplines while preparing graduates for successful professional careers.

Westfield State has developed a new Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program in response to updated national accreditation standards requiring entry-level athletic trainers to earn a master's degree. 

Students may apply directly to the two-year graduate program or pursue Westfield State's accelerated 3+2 Sports Medicine pathway, which enables students to earn both a bachelor's degree and the MSAT in five years.

For more information about the MSAT program, contact Program Director Dr. Paul Higgins at phiggins@westfield.ma.edu or 413-572-5393.