News
Meet the Athletic Trainer: Jonathan Bovee, LAT, ATC, CKTP
August 10, 2026
We're wrapping up our “Meet the Athletic Trainer” series by introducing Jonathan "Jon" Bovee, LAT, ATC, CKTP, Athletic Training Supervisor at Starr Regional Medical Center and athletic trainer for the McMinn County High School Cherokees.
For nearly a decade, Jon has helped student-athletes stay healthy, recover from injuries and safely return to the sports they love. His path to athletic training was an easy choice.
"I grew up playing sports but wanted to go into something in the medical field. Once I learned I could have both worlds in one job, it was a no-brainer."
Jon currently provides coverage for a wide variety of McMinn County athletics, including football, golf, cheer, cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, tennis, track and flag football.
One of the things he enjoys most about working with student-athletes is the relationships he builds along the way.
"The students are always making you laugh and smile. It's nice to be the person who gets to do that for them as well."
He also values the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young athletes.
"It's a great feeling when an athlete gets to play or performs better because of something you were able to help them with."
While many people think athletic trainers only treat injuries, Jon says the role extends far beyond physical care.
"We are there for the athletes' mental health just as much as we are for their physical health."
One of the most common injuries he treats is ankle sprains, and he encourages athletes to speak up when something doesn't feel right.
"If we know about an injury early, we can either do something about it before it becomes worse or get a jump on treatment. Both will get them back to the field faster."
For Jon, one of the most rewarding parts of athletic training is helping athletes throughout their recovery journey.
"It's the whole reason for the job. We get to see an athlete from before they're injured to the time they step back onto the field again, sometimes after months of work. Knowing we played a part in helping them return to the sport they love is extremely meaningful."
Through Starr Regional Medical Center's partnership with local schools, student-athletes and their families have access to sports medicine expertise right where they need it most.
"It's a great resource. It's free medical care at their fingertips, where athletes can get quality medical care right inside their own school."
Jon is also proud to represent Starr Regional Medical Center in the community.
"It's a privilege. Starr has been a great place to work that really appreciates athletic trainers and sees our value."
A few rapid-fire favorites of Jon’s:
☕ Coffee over energy drinks
🏈 Friday Night Football all the way
🩹 Tape ankles over filling water bottles
🍗 Bojangles after the game
⛰️ Mountains over the beach
🎣 Hunting, fishing, camping and spending time with his kids
His favorite teams? The Georgia Bulldogs, Buffalo Bills and New York Yankees.
Jon hopes athletes learn one important lesson beyond sports medicine: "The importance of taking care of themselves."
And as our final athletic trainer spotlight comes to a close, Jon has this message for student-athletes, parents and coaches:
"We are here for you! Use your athletic trainer and all of the skills and resources we have at our disposal. Between our three athletic trainers, we have more than 40 years of combined athletic training experience."
At Starr Regional Medical Center, we're proud to partner with local schools to provide athletic training services that help student-athletes stay healthy, perform at their best and receive expert care throughout every season.
Thank you for following our "Meet the Athletic Trainer" series and helping us celebrate the dedicated professionals who make a difference for student-athletes across our communities every day.
#MeetTheAthleticTrainer #AthleticTraining #SportsMedicine #McMinnCountyCherokees #StudentAthleteHealth #StarrRegionalMedicalCenter #CommunityPartnership #FridayNightFootball #SportsSafety