Kinesiology student lands prestigious internship
Standing on the threshold of a major career milestone, Andy Kaeppeli is ready to turn years of international experience, collegiate athletics and academic excellence into the next big step of his journey.
Kaeppeli has been chosen to intern at Massachusetts’ renowned Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, setting the stage for his future in sports science and coaching. He is a senior at Texas A&M University-Victoria pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Exercise Science Strength and Conditioning.
“I was absolutely stoked, I was thrilled when I found out,” Kaeppeli said. “I was hoping for it, I didn’t expect it, but I was hoping for it, and I was all the more happy to find out that I was accepted; it was an amazing moment.”
Born in British Columbia, he was raised in Zurich, Switzerland, where he spent about 16 years of his life before embarking across the ocean to the Lone Star State to continue his athletic career.
“Andy Kaeppeli’s selection for an internship at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning is an incredible accomplishment and a powerful reflection of the caliber of our Kinesiology program,” said Rachel Martinez, dean of the College of Education & Health Professions. “MBSC is one of the most respected sports performance facilities in the world, and this opportunity highlights the preparation, knowledge, and professionalism our students gain through their coursework and mentoring here at the College of Education & Health Professions. I am so proud of our outstanding faculty – especially Dr. Tucker, Dr. Black and Dr. Lee – whose commitment to excellence, innovation, and student success continues to open doors for our students. This achievement showcases the strength of our Exercise Science Strength and Conditioning degree and the transformative impact of the Kinesiology program at our university.”
A lifelong athlete, Kaeppeli spent more than 15 years honing his soccer skills as a goalkeeper, eight years of which he dedicated to two professional academies in Switzerland. After playing semi-professional soccer in Switzerland for one year, Kaeppeli came to A&M-Victoria to play soccer as a Jaguar, where he was named captain for two seasons.
“Strength and conditioning gives you the tools to get the most out of the human body,” he said. “As an athlete, you always want to get the most out of yourself that you can in order to perform well.”
Throughout his academic journey, Kaeppeli attributes much of his growth and focus to the guidance and support of his professors at A&M-Victoria, notably Raymond Tucker, department chair of Health and Human Performance, Nursing and Counseling, and Chang Woock Lee, Health Studies and Kinesiology program coordinator, he said.
Tucker, who serves as his academic advisor and instructor for courses like “Scientific Principles of Strength Conditioning” and “Program Design,” played a crucial role in introducing him to fundamental knowledge as well as practical skills needed for the field, he said. He also credits Lee, who taught him “Biomechanics and Physiology of Exercise,” with providing him with insights that deepened his understanding of human performance.
The Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning internship program is one of the top strength and conditioning facilities in the world, known for its rigorous certification program and impact it has had in the field, Tucker said.
After noticing Kaeppeli’s talents and enthusiasm that he showed in many of his courses, Tucker said he encouraged him to apply for the internship, outlining its unique benefits and opportunities.
“The more I got to know him in my classes, the more I noticed that he would show up early, stay late and would ask a lot of questions,” Tucker said. “And so, one day I told him, ‘Andy, you got it. You have the tools to be a good strength and conditioning coach.’”
The in-person internship will take place next year from January until mid-May, where Kaeppeli will take part in a hands-on journey to coach a diverse range of clients, from middle and high schoolers to college athletes and adults eager to stay fit. Looking ahead, Kaeppeli said he is driven by a desire to excel not just for himself, but to uplift others.
“I want to first work in the field, I want to be established in the field,” Kaeppeli said. “I want to learn more so I can help my athletes to the best of my abilities. That’s all it boils down to.”
Texas A&M University-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the colleges of Business, Education & Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and Natural & Applied Science. A&M-Victoria provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as online classes that students can take from anywhere. The university supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.