To contact Highlands Therapy & Sports Center, please call 1.800.876.6026, ext. 3762.
Highlands
Sports Center
Meet Our Team!
Shelly Wilbanks, ATC/L Coordinator
Shelly is a 2002 graduate of the University of Alabama,
where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Athletic
Training. While at Alabama, she worked with Crimson Tide
football, softball, baseball, and women’s track
and field. She also worked with Central High School football
while in Tuscaloosa. Originally from Fruithurst, AL,
Shelly joined Highlands Sports Center in 2003, and in
June 2007 became Athletic Trainer Coordinator for Highlands
Sports Center. Shelly is the primary athletic trainer
for Section High School athletics. She is married to
Anthony Wilbanks, and they reside in Section.
Sema Hargrove, ATC/L
Sema is a graduate of Wallace State where she received
an Associates of Science in Sports Medicine. She
is also a graduate of the University of North Alabama
(UNA) where she received a Bachelors of Science in
Fitness Management. While at UNA, Sema worked with
the UNA Lions football, volleyball, cross country,
basketball, tennis, softball, and soccer teams. After
graduation Sema worked for Red Bay Hospital caring
for the local athletes including Red Bay, Vina, and
Belgreen High Schools. She also provided athletic
training services for the soccer matches during the
2004 Alabama Sports Festival in Huntsville. Sema
also worked with Limestone County high school
athletes. She joined Highlands Sports Center in January
2006 and is the primary athletic trainer for DAR.
She is married to Jody Hargrove, and has two step-daughters
Casey and Paige. She and Jody live in Ardmore, AL.
Karen Polaschek, PT, ATC
Originally from Overland Park, Kansas, Karen came to
Scottsboro as a traveling physical therapist. She
now serves as a full-time physical therapist with
Highlands Rehabilitation Center. Karen has a Bachelors
of Science in Athletic Training from the University
of Kansas, a Bachelors of Health Care Science and
a Masters in Physical Therapy from the University
of Texas Health and Science Center at San Antonio.
Karen has experience working with athletes of all
ages and ability levels, from pee wee to professional,
in a variety of sports. She volunteers as an assistant
coach with the Section cross country team and is
a runner herself.
Jimmy Taylor, ATC
Jimmy is a 1993 graduate from Pisgah High School and
later went on to receive a Bachelors of Science degree
in Athletic Training at the University of West Alabama
in 1999. While at the university he worked with the football,
baseball, and rodeo teams. Since then his work related
experience includes the Blue-Gray All-Star college
football game, Justin Sports Medicine, college, professional,
junior high, and high school athletic training. Jimmy
has worked at Highlands Rehabilitation Center since
August 2006 helping treat athletes along side physical
therapists. Jimmy can often be found working with
local schools as an athletic trainer.
Contact Jimmy at 218.3760.
Robert Fanning
Robert is a native of Scottsboro and a graduate of Scottsboro
High School. He earned a Bachelors of Science in
Health, Physical Education and Recreation from the
University of North Alabama. Robert specialized in
exercise testing of athletes in the university’s
human performance lab. He holds certifications as
a BLS/CPR instructor as well as a Health Fitness
Instructor. Robert has been on staff with Highlands
Sports Center since August of 2004.
