For any athlete, an injury can feel like the end of the world – but for Nicole Jaswal, it’s the beginning of helping them heal, rebuild, and return even stronger.  

A graduate of McMaster’s kinesiology program, Jaswal has been working as a Student Field Therapist since her third year, and has remained an active part of the SFT team after graduating in 2024.  

She was first attracted to the SFT role because of the hands-on learning it offered. As a Student Field Therapist, she works alongside some of Canada’s top sport medicine professionals, delivering care to varsity athletes. Whether on the sidelines or in the clinic, she supports athletes through manual therapy, taping, and injury assessments — gaining invaluable real-world experience every step of the way. 

“I wanted to stay involved in sport in a new way, while combining my passion for helping others and my education,” Jaswal said. Becoming an SFT has given her the chance to gain practical experience, stay active in the world of athletics, and contribute to the Marauder community. 

As a Student Field Therapist, Jaswal worked with the swimming team during the 23/24 season and the men’s soccer team during the 24/25 season. Both teams medaled in OUAs the years that she was with them.  

Over the last year, she took on additional roles helping mentor Student Field Therapists, sat on the interview panel for SFTs, and played a crucial role at two training sessions for SFTs to offer guidance and mentorship.  

“When I have a question, I really value it when someone takes the time to help me learn,” she said. “I want to do the same for others.”  

When an athlete is on the table, she makes it a point to explain to them what is happening to their body so they are informed. “If something’s wrong, you don’t want to just think, ‘Oh, it’s my knee.’ It helps to know which structures in your knee are actually injured and why,” she said. 

By building strong relationships with athletes, she’s able to make a more meaningful impact. “It’s easier to help someone when they already know and trust you,” Jaswal said.  

Some of Nicole’s most impactful experiences have been working closely with athletes. “No one wants to see someone get injured, whether as a therapist or just as a person. But when it does happen, I want to be there to offer support, stay positive, and help them get back to where they need to be,” she explained.  

Jaswal has dedicated over 500 hours to the Student Field Therapist team, an achievement that was recognized at the Marauder Student Athlete Awards when she won the Bruce Cochrane Award. The awards announcement described Jaswal as “the heartbeat of McMaster’s sports community.”  

Winning the award was completely unexpected, Jaswal said. “I never came into the position wanting anything out of it other than to learn and to be part of something,” she said. “But… I didn’t need the award to feel appreciated and know that I made a difference.” 

She always felt valued by the McMaster community, including her mentors, Dylan Whitbread, Stuart Maxwell, Chris Puskas and Ryan Coomber, who always made her feel like she was a part of the team and never hesitated to acknowledge her hard work.  

“I definitely feel the love from the Mac community,” Jaswal said. The people she’s served and friends she made now cheer her on, and after years of building those connections, walking through DBAC has become something special: “Every ten feet, I see someone I know, stopping for a quick chat or saying hi—and that’s one of my favourite things,’ she said. “‘The best thing about the Mac sport community is how it brings everyone together.'”  

Being a Student Performance Coach and Student Field Therapist has provided Jaswal with the hands-on experience she was looking for – and so much more. And it gave her clarity on whether physiotherapy was the right career path. “It turns out, it’s exactly what I want to do with my life.”  

She’s currently working with lacrosse teams in her hometown of Whitby and plans to pursue physiotherapy degree, both of which were possible because of what she learned at McMaster.  

“It’s given me the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to create meaningful relationships that I’ll have for the rest of my life.”