DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University assistant director of athletics for sports medicine Maria Ochoa introduced the addition of Ayako Maeda as a first responder within her department.

Within her experience in athletic training, Maeda gained immersive experience at Division I University of Michigan during the spring of 2026. Here, she was the primary care to the men's gymnastics team, and traveled to away meets, which included the BIG Ten championships and NCAA championships. Maeda also assisted other sporting events, such as track & field, softball, the CWPA water polo championships, and NCAA women's tennis matches.

Prior to the University of Michigan, Maeda previously performed athletic training duties at her alma mater, Division III Springfield College. She worked in the sport injury rehabilitation clinic, and various sporting events like wrestling, men's gymnastics, women's basketball, women's lacrosse, and pre-season football.

Hailing from Springfield, Massachusetts, Maeda completed her masters of science in athletic training from Springfield in 2026. She also attained her bachelor of science in exercise science with a minor in nutritional sciences from Springfield in 2025.