Steve Graves never planned on becoming an athletic trainer. He just knew he wanted to belong in the world of sports.

Growing up with a father who coached multiple high school teams, Steve was surrounded by athletics from an early age. He was drawn to the energy, competition, and community that sports create. He tried playing nearly everything himself, but quickly realized his strengths were not on the field.

"I sucked at everything I tried," he said. "And I stumbled upon athletic training in college and thought it would be a cool way to satisfy my desire to work in the sports world."

That discovery changed everything. Athletic training gave Steve a way to stay connected to the game—not as a spectator, but as someone deeply involved in the success, health, and growth of those who played. What began as an unexpected opportunity became a lifelong calling, one that ultimately led him to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and a career spanning more than 30 years.

Now serving as Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, Performance, and Health, Steve has seen CMS Athletics through nearly every phase of its evolution. "Compared to now, it was a tiny world," he said of his early days. "All head coaches coached two sports. It was just me for all of the sports, and you just did what you did. Everybody pitched in, and it was a pretty good family."

Finding Purpose Over Prestige
Steve never chased the idea of Division I athletics or professional sports. What mattered most to him was impact.

"I guess the truth is I never thought I wouldn't stay," he said. "I didn't have dreams of D1 or professional, so it didn't take long for me to figure out I was happy here."

CMS offered something rare: the chance to be deeply involved in every aspect of a student-athlete's journey. As an athletic trainer, Steve wasn't limited to injuries or practices, he became part of the daily rhythm of athletes' lives, from preseason conditioning to late-night conversations in the training room.

When asked what people don't often realize about the profession Steve says "that I am a part of every aspect of their athletic experience."

Growing With CMS Athletics
When Steve arrived at CMS, athletics operated with limited staffing and facilities, but the commitment to student-athletes was always present.

"The dedication to athletics has never been questioned," he said. "It was all about winning and success and supporting and making the best experience for the student-athlete."

Over the years, that philosophy was matched with increased institutional support. Facilities improved. Staffing expanded. Resources grew. And with that growth came a transformation in sports medicine.

"There's more of us, so we can do more," Graves said. "It went from me taping ankles and standing there doing first aid and making sure everyone was safe. Now it is all of the extensive rehabs and nutrition and mental health and all the other aspects of the profession, and of course the administrative and committee work."

That evolution reflects a broader shift in how athletic trainers impact scholar-leader-athletes. At CMS, sports medicine is not just reactive—it is proactive, personal, and holistic. Athletic trainers support athletes physically, mentally, and emotionally, helping them balance rigorous academics with competitive athletics and leadership responsibilities.

"We continue to provide the highest quality care for our athletes both medically but also personally," Steve said.

The Relationships Behind the Results
Ask Graves about his favorite season or moment, and he won't name a single game or championship. "There's way too many of them to actually remember which one would have stood out," he said.

What he remembers most are the relationships, and the long days that built them.

"I really think what I remember the most are the really long, grueling days of standing out on the track until midnight waiting for the last pole vaulter to finish," he said. "Or working a baseball doubleheader, sprinting in from the field, hopping in the van with the basketball team, and heading out to Cal Lu for a game."

Those days were exhausting, but they mattered. Athletic trainers are often present when no one else is—before sunrise, after midnight, on buses, in locker rooms, and during quiet moments when athletes are struggling physically or mentally. That constant presence builds trust.

"Many former student-athletes and student-workers who I still remain very close with are some of my best friends," Steve said. "The memories we have together are forever."

It's why alumni still stop by years later just to say hello. "Obviously it's just cool when you know you've touched their lives and made a difference," he said.

Leading From Behind the Scenes
Despite his longevity and leadership role, Steve approaches his work with humility. "All I've ever said from day one is that I want student-athletes to leave here and someday say, 'There was this dude at CMS, he was pretty cool and helped me a lot,'" he said. "I don't remember his name, but yeah, he was cool."

That mindset shapes the culture within CMS Sports Medicine. Steve empowers his staff to be themselves and bring their own strengths to the table. "What makes us great is that we all take a different approach to the same ultimate goal," he said.

That approach mirrors the CMS athlete experience itself. "The ability for CMS student-athletes to achieve so many things in and out of athletics is just mind-baffling," Steve said, reflecting on the scholar-leader model that defines the institution.

A Lasting Legacy
Looking back, Graves is most proud of the growth of the department, the profession, and the people. "Simply the growth and the fact that we continue to provide the highest quality care for our athletes," he said, "and just the memories of all of the lives that I have touched."

What keeps him motivated even now is watching the next generation take the baton. "Watching my younger staff have so much fun like I used to, and I still do, but watching them create the memories and the relationships, it's fun to watch," he said.

Facilities will change. Technology will evolve. But the heart of CMS Athletics remains constant. "We simply do whatever it takes to be the best," Steve said.

For him, that excellence is found in small, human moments, the inside jokes in the athletic training room, the late-night bus rides capped with a long-forgotten sandwich, the quiet trust of an athlete who knows someone has their back. Reflecting on decades of service, Steve summed up the lesson that has guided his career: "Don't be afraid to listen and to grow."

It's a philosophy that defines not just his legacy, but the enduring impact athletic trainers have on the scholar-leader-athletes they serve, often quietly, always meaningfully, and long after the final whistle blows.

"To love what you do, and feel that it matters, could anything be more fun?"