The results are IN and the confetti cannons are READY!
4836 submissions, 307 sprained ankles, 277 concussions, 14 life-saving incidents, and a grueling selection process later, we’re thrilled to finally announce the winner of the 2025 Perry Weather AT Excellence Awards!
Seriously, we were absolutely FLOORED by the tidal wave of appreciation for athletic trainers, with 500% more submissions than ever before.
That’s over 2 million words written by coaches, athletes, parents, and peers, all honoring athletic trainers and the incredible impact they have every single day.
One of our biggest takeaways from this: boy, people sure do love their ATs!
And you know what? So do we!
How We Chose Our Winner
At Perry Weather, we take choosing a winner very seriously—so seriously, in fact, that the entire organization got involved. Trust us, we did NOT pick them out of a hat!
With all hands on deck, every single Perry Weather teammate rolled up their sleeves and dove headfirst into the rigorous nomination process. We’re talking multiple rounds of voting, and lively (and sometimes very lively!) discussions.
Each of us carefully selected our personal top 10, pouring over every heartfelt story and achievement. Our leadership team then took over from there, combing through the top picks and making the final call.
It was collaborative. It was emotional. And it was a company-wide celebration of the incredible work athletic trainers do.
Our CEO, Colin Perry, puts it perfectly:
“We take these awards seriously because you take your work seriously, and that deserves to be recognized in a big way! Every game, every practice, every season—athletic trainers are there, ensuring safety and peak performance for athletes at all levels”.
And now, after all that anticipation, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…Please join us in celebrating the 2025 AT Excellence Award winner:
🏆 Meet the 2025 AT Excellence Award Winner: 🎉 Eli Hallak 🎉
With nearly three decades of experience as a certified athletic trainer and educator at St. Francis High School, Eli has spent his career elevating the people and profession around him.
When California’s new CIF Heat Stress & WBGT Mandate was announced, Eli jumped into action — organizing a special panel episode on his podcast, WRAP IT UP: Sports Medicine + More, to help thousands of ATs across the state understand the new policy and apply it in real-time.
“His initiative helped bridge the gap between regulatory changes and real-world application, ensuring that ATs could implement best practices for athlete safety.”
Elevating the Conversation Around Athletic Training
But Eli’s impact doesn’t stop there. As a founding member of the National Honor Society of Sports Medicine and CEO of the American Academic Competition Institute, he’s played a pivotal role in supporting academic growth and professional development for aspiring sports medicine students.
And his nearly 30-year tenure as a high school sports medicine educator speaks volumes about his commitment to mentorship and community.
And with that, the 2025 Perry Weather AT Excellence Award finds its deserving home with Eli Hallak! But the celebration doesn’t stop here.
To every AT out there tirelessly taping ankles, expertly diagnosing injuries, and calmly navigating the chaos on the sidelines – you are the backbone of athletic excellence and safety.
We’re honored to support you and can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll accomplish in the years to come!
From all of us at Perry Weather — congrats, Eli!
