Sports Residency Mentors and Residents

Sports Residency Faculty

Kyle Matsel, PT, DPT, PhD, SCS, CSCS

Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
ProRehab and University of Evansville Sports Residency Program Director
Director of the Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence

Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, Room 3009
812-488-5105
km218@evansville.edu

Dr. Matsel is faculty at the University of Evansville where he teaches in the musculoskeletal content areas of the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Evansville in 2011 and his PhD in rehabilitation sciences from the University of Kentucky in 2021. His research interests are in the identification of musculoskeletal injury risk factors and the implementation of arm care exercise programs for baseball players. He is the Director of the ProRehab & University of Evansville Sports Physical Therapy residency program. He is a board-certified clinical specialist in sports through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Dr. Matsel is engaged in patient care at ProRehab specializing in sports and orthopedic rehabilitation. Additionally, Dr. Matsel presents nationally on topics related to comprehensive, systematic movement-based assessment and testing and is a consultant with a number of collegiate and professional sports teams regarding injury prevention strategies.

Bethany Huebner, PT, DPT, PhD, SCS, MTC

Associate Professor, Department Chair, and Program Director/Physical Therapy

Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, Room 3027
812-488-4062
bh212@evansville.edu

Dr. Huebner teaches within the area of musculoskeletal, foundational sciences, and clinical course work in the DPT program. She received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Professions Education from Bellarmine University in 2022, her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Indiana University in 2009, and her Bachelor's degree in Biology from The University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2006. Dr. Huebner graduated from the ProRehab and University of Evansville's Sports Residency program in 2010. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in sports through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She also received her manual therapy certification through Evidence in Motion's program in 2014. Dr. Huebner's research interest is in injury prevention through individualized and group training and physical therapy education with an emphasis on feedback for learning.

Phil Plisky, PT, DSc, OCS, ATC, CSCS

Associate Professor and Director of UE Residency Programs

Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, Room 3017
812-488-2348
pp2@evansville.edu

Dr. Plisky teaches within the musculoskeletal and leadership/practice administration areas of the curriculum. He received his Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Evansville and his Doctor of Science degree in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. He is a board certified clinical specialist in orthopedics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He is also a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Dr. Plisky has published research in leading scientific journals and lectured internationally on injury prevention and field expedient movement testing. He has received research grants from multiple federal and private agencies for injury prevention studies. His current research is focused on comprehensive movement testing and interventions in athletes, military personnel, and school-aged children. Dr. Plisky consults with collegiate and professional teams for injury risk identification and injury prevention. In addition, he serves as a manuscript reviewer for several scientific journals. He is also actively engaged in patient care in his own private practice in Evansville, IN and is the Director of UE Residency Programs.

Katie Whetstone, PT, DPT, SCS

Assistant Professor / Physical Therapy

Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, Room 3016
812-488-2549
kl68@evansville.edu

Katie Whetstone is a 2012 graduate of the University of Evansville Doctor of Physical Therapy program and a 2013 graduate of the University of Evansville/Pro Rehab Sports Residency Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She continues to be involved in the sports residency program as a clinical mentor and assists with curriculum development. Katie continues to serve in the clinic as a physical therapist specializing in the treatment of both traditional and recreational athletes at all levels. Her special interests include the application of injury prevention programs, the female athlete, and the clinical development of sports clinical experts.

Mentors

Alyssa Englert, PT, DPT, SCS

ProRehab Sports Residency Mentor

aw279@evansville.edu

Alyssa is a graduate of the University of Evansville Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and a graduate of the University of Evansville and ProRehab Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program. She is a Board-Certified Specialist in Sport Physical Therapy and is a Functional Dry Needling Specialist. Alyssa is a mentor in the Sport Residency Program and is also an Adjunct Professor in the University of Evansville DPT program.

Alyssa enjoys working with athletes and active individuals of all ages and is passionate about injury prevention and promoting an active lifestyle throughout the lifetime. In addition to her clinical role, Alyssa is involved in performance training through ProMotion, a performance enhancement and injury prevention program. Alyssa enjoys leading an active lifestyle and spending time outdoors with her husband, Sean, and dog, Remi.

Franny Matsel, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, TPS

ProRehab Sports Residency Mentor

812-488-3445
fe5@evansville.edu

Board Certified Sports Specialist
Franny received her undergraduate degree in Movement Science from the University of Evansville in 2008. While at the University of Evansville she also achieved a minor in psychology and sport and exercise psychology. She earned her doctorate of physical therapy from the University of Evansville in 2010. Franny is a 2011 graduate of the ProRehab and University of Evansville Sports Residency Program and is a board certified sports specialist. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a member of the Sports Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.|

Franny continues to mentor in our sports residency program. Her strong interest in injury prevention keeps her active in community screenings and physicals at the local school. She loves treating any level of athletes. She has specialized training in Selective Functional Movement Assessment, Functional Movement Screen and the Fundamental Capacity Screen. Franny also has extensive training in trigger point dry needling. She has recently pursued further education relating to pain science and is a Therapeutic Pain Specialist.

Franny grew up in Evansville and continues to stay connected with the community. She keeps very active in her spare time and enjoys running, biking, and swimming along which chasing her two small children. She continues to stay involved at the University of Evansville by volunteering in the pro bono Ace CARE clinic and lab assisting in the physical therapy department. She enjoys spending time helping at Riding Hope where she assists in providing hippotherapy for children with special needs. She loves to travel and enjoys hearing stories from her patients’ travels. Franny lives in Evansville with her husband and two children.

A.J. Hermann, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC/L

ProRehab Sports Residency Mentor

ah311@evansville.edu

Residents

Ervin Velic, PT, DPT

Sports Resident

ev61@evansville.edu

Ervin graduated from the Bradley University Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2020. Prior to PT school, he studied Kinesiology at the University of Illinois in Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree with a concentration in Applied Exercise Physiology. He is currently a Sports Physical Therapy Resident with the University of Evansville and ProRehab, working towards developing expertise in treating the athletic population. He is passionate about developing a deep understanding of human movement, diagnosis and treatment of movement dysfunction, movement optimization, injury risk reduction, as well as bridging the gap from rehabilitation to performance enhancement. His athletic experience includes playing football and wrestling in high school, martial arts and barbell sports.

Tessa Netelbeek, PT, DPT

Sports Resident

tn76@evansville.edu

Tessa Netelbeek grew up in the mountains of Salt Lake City. She earned her BS in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Utah (Go Utes!) in 2016 and her DPT from the University of Montana in 2020. She has been a personal trainer and enjoys playing soccer, volleyball, hiking with her dog, running, and skiing. Tessa’s passion for PT shines when she is working with athletes of all ages to address and correct movement dysfunction to enhance their recovery and ensure a safe return to sport process.

Rolando Rodriguez, PT, DPT

Sports Resident

rr200@evansville.edu

Rolando J. Rodriguez graduated from the Rutgers University Doctor of Physical Therapy program in May 2021. Prior to Rutgers’ PT program, he received a bachelor’s degree in Biology, and was a four-year member and captain of the NCAA men’s soccer team at Keystone College. Rolando is currently a Sports Physical Therapy Resident in the ProRehab and University of Evansville Sports Residency Program. He is pursuing a residency because it offers structured learning, the ability to work with a wide range of athletes, the opportunity to teach in a DPT program, and the mentorship programs that allow learning from the best minds in the field. Rolando’s search for a Residency brought him to Evansville where he is furthering his understanding of human movement and aiming to bridge the gap between sport performance and physical therapy.

Rolando enjoys coaching soccer, participating in martial arts, dancing to Latin music, and traveling. His interests encouraged him to pursue unique clinical experiences in PT school such as interning at both the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas and at the Four Corners Native American Health Center in Arizona, as well as participating in a PT mission trip in the Dominican Republic.

Office Phone
812-488-1209

Office Email
pt@evansville.edu

Office Location
Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, 515 Bob Jones Way, Room 3001, Evansville, IN 47708

University of Evansville

Academic Programs
Physical Therapy