FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9-20-01

AASU Hires Mylene Benito As Head Athletic Trainer
Gibson, Alekhova Named Graduate Assistants In Training Room, Tennis

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Mylene Benito, ATC, has been named the new head athletic trainer at Armstrong Atlantic State University, and the school also announced the appointment of Kristin Gibson as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and Natalia Alekhova as a graduate assistant men's and women's tennis coach for the 2001-2002 season.

Benito, who played for the Pirate volleyball squad from 1992 to 1996 and graduated from Armstrong Atlantic State with a bachelor's of science degree in health and physical education in 1998, has been a part of the AASU athletic training office for the last four years. The Georgetown, Ontario, native earned her master's of science degree in health science in 2000 and replaces William Buckley, who resigned in 2001 after eight years as the head of athletic training at AASU.

Joining Benito's athletic training staff for 2001-2002 as a graduate assistant will be Kristin Gibson. A 2001 graduate of Western Michigan University, Gibson earned her bachelor's degree in physical education/exercise science and the Hillman, Michigan, native is currently pursuing her master's degree in sports medicine.

AASU also announced the hiring of former New Mexico women's tennis standout Natalia Alekhova as a graduate assistant for the men's and women's tennis teams for the 2001-2002 season. Alekhova, compiled a career 111-47 singles record for the Lobos in four season and was a two-time Mountain West Conference and two-time Western Athletic Conference honoree while at New Mexico. The Novosibirsk, Russia, native graduated from New Mexico in 2001 with degrees in psychology and Russian and is currently pursuing her master's degree in special education.

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