Castle Pines resident Gregg Brueck is the dedicated athletic trainer for Real Colorado from Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Article and photos by Elean Gersack

Spring soccer will soon kick into high gear, so it is the perfect time to introduce Castle Pines resident Gregg Brueck to our readers. Brueck is the full-time athletic trainer for Real Colorado Soccer (Real), through a partnership between the youth soccer club and Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado).

Brueck hails from the midwest – Indiana, to be exact. There he received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Purdue University before heading to West Virginia University where he received his master’s degree in the same. Brueck spent the majority of his career as an athletic trainer in collegiate settings. Most recently at the University of Vermont, he devoted his time to the men’s ice hockey team as well as Nordic and Alpine ski teams.

About three years ago, Brueck’s wife received a career offer that was too good to pass up, so the family moved west to Colorado. He settled in as the athletic trainer at Elizabeth High School for about a year until he came into an opportunity with Children’s Colorado and Real.

Brueck is employed by Children’s Colorado with his position embedded directly into the soccer club to help promote health and wellness through the hospital’s sports medicine for young athletes program. Having trainers for youth programs is a fairly new concept, so he is somewhat of a pioneer. “There are very few athletic trainers dedicated to youth sports,” said Brueck.

In his role, he is an on-the-go gatekeeper of sorts. He can be found wrapping ankles off the back of his truck before games and practices or giving athletes advice about stretching and conditioning. He is readily available to players, coaches, and families for medical related questions and to evaluate injuries, help recommend treatment and care, and help get athletes back on the road to recovery. “Seeing athletes return to their sport is very rewarding,” said Brueck.

Much of Brueck’s attention is focused on the competitive teams, which are often prioritized as needing a medical person to be onsite. He even travels a few times each year with these teams; however, he can also be found at the recreational fields checking in on younger ones and introducing himself to parents.

As the snow melts and spring practices begin, Brueck suggests that players get ready to start the new season as healthy as possible. He suggests setting goals, engaging in a proper diet, and starting a conditioning regime with a friend or teammate.

When not at the fields, Brueck enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. For Real players and their families, Brueck is just an e-mail or phone call away. He can be reached at Gregg.Brueck@childrenscolorado.org or at the Real office in Centennial at 303-694-6882.

Brueck examines the ankle of a Real player McKenna, who rolled her ankle when another player stepped on her foot. As part of her recovery, Brueck talks with McKenna about stretching using a band and using the bike and elliptical before eventually getting back to running.

Brueck helps Rock Canyon senior Kaycie, who is headed to play soccer with the University of Portland next fall, get some stretching in before practice on February 10.