Matt Lee, an Exeter grad and soccer player at Alvernia, is working as an EMT
Matt Lee’s rides with Western Berks Ambulance are different than they were a few months ago.
There are fewer calls and they’re handled with greater caution. There’s more stress because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I worry about it because nobody wants to get it,” Lee said. “You never know who has it. The symptoms don’t show up right away.”
The Exeter grad, who plays soccer at Alvernia, is an emergency medical technician with the West Lawn company. He’s studying to become a physician assistant.
Lee is on the basic life support truck, which handles more stable situations that aren’t life and death. He has to gain experience in order to move up to advanced life support.
Work as an EMT was more intense than Lee expected and that’s especially true during these challenging times.
“It is pretty crazy with how limited we are with supplies and how much our protocols are changing,” Lee said. “We have to obviously protect ourselves, protect the patient and take so many more precautions. Everything is a lot more careful.”
Lee is finishing his junior year at Alvernia. He has a 4.0 GPA and was one of five finalists for a $10,000 Senior Scholar Award.
Alvernia coach Casey Moore said Lee will be a captain this fall and is an instrumental part of the Golden Wolves as a center midfielder.
“Matt is an incredible person and teammate,” Moore said. “He is always working hard and setting a great example for the team. He is very cerebral, emotionally intelligent and mature beyond his years.”
Lee came up through the Exeter Youth Soccer Association, played for FC Revolution and was part of the Olympic development program.
When Exeter won its most recent Berks championship in 2014, Lee was a sophomore.
“I’m very impressed by what he’s doing at Alvernia academically and athletically,” Exeter coach Eric Franks said. “He’s just a great kid.”
Alvernia had 10 Berks alumni from seven schools on its roster last season. Lee was part of that local contingent. He started all but one game and finished with a goal and two assists.
Moore said Lee was used as the pivot player for the team’s attacks and to help transition from the back for counters. He brings plenty of intangibles to the field.
“He is quiet by nature but when he speaks up, everyone is eager to listen because of everything he represents,” Moore said. “He is the true epitome of a leader in every sense of the word so it is a no-brainer to have him represent us as a team captain.”
When Lee went through EMT training, he was given tiered rankings of the companies. He said he picked Western Berks because it was Tier 1. That meant
more calls and more experience.
It has been a valuable learning tool.
“I knew I always liked helping others and I wanted to be involved in
medicine,” he said. “So I thought the EMT route would be a good way to get my foot in the door. I thought that was the first step in the right direction for me.”