It has been my pleasure to have Deanna Bender work with our student athletes at Princeton. For over 20 years Deanna has provided excellent massage services for our track team.  Deanna has an excellent grasp on how to treat the various injuries that track and field athletes may have. Deanna has worked with athletes at all levels of ability. This is significant as she understands the needs of the individual and develops a plan that helps each person gain fitness again to pursue their events. Deanna also has an excellent “bedside manner”. She not only relates well to people, but is also encouraging and helpful to improve a positive mental aspect during recovery from injury. I give Deanna my highest recommendation. As a former Olympic Coach & Coach at Princeton for the past 46 years I rate Deanna at the top of her field.

​

FRED SAMARA / HEAD COACH OF MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD / PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

​

As the current Head Coach of Dartmouth College’s Men’s and Women’s swimming and diving teams, and former assistant coach, I have had the privilege of working with Deanna Field-Bender for 6 of the 16 years she has worked with our team as a massage therapist. Deanna has been an invaluable part of our program’s support team. I have witnessed firsthand the impact of her expertise, dedication, and care for our student-athletes. She plays a vital role in our team’s championship performances. Deanna works with our team every year when we travel to Princeton, NJ for the Ivy League Swimming & Diving Championship competitions, providing essential sports massage and recovery treatment to help our swimmers and divers perform at their best. Her deep understanding of biomechanics, injury prevention, pre-performance activation, and athlete maintenance allows her to tailor treatments that address both immediate concerns and long-term performance goals. Our athletes trust her skill and knowledge, seeking her guidance to maintain peak physical condition during the most critical competition of the season. Beyond her technical expertise, Deanna is a consummate professional brining a positive and supportive
presence to the athletes and staff during the highest-pressure competition of our season. She is passionate about her work and always brings new advancements and knowledge relatable to her field to provide the best care and support possible. Her commitment to the well-being of our student-athletes makes her an essential part of our team’s success and our student-athletes truly look forward to seeing her each year. As a Head Coach, I can rely on her to let me know if there are any athletes I should have particular concern for and to just simply give me a pulse on the energy level of the team.
I highly recommend Deanna Field-Bender for any role in which her specialized skills, dedication to athlete care, and deep knowledge of her profession can be utilized. She would be a tremendous asset to any organization seeking a knowledgeable, highly skilled, and compassionate professional. She leaves a lasting positive impact on all those who work with her and I am honored to have her as part of our support team every championship season.

MILANA SOCHA / HEAD COACH MEN'S & WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING / DARTMOUTH COLLEGE / MARCH 3, 2025

​

My name is Philippe Snoy and I am the assistant men’s tennis coach at Army West Point. Prior to joining West Point’s program, I was the assistant coach at Rider University from 2022-2024. I am also a tournament level player myself currently participating in national tournaments throughout the country and reside in Princeton, NJ. Deanna Bender has been working on me for over three years now helping me stay physically healthy as well as dealing with some tendinitis in my bicep area. I was referred to her by another player I used to train from TCNJ named Dorian Makarski. Deanna is an important member of my personal team and is directly responsible for keeping me healthy in order to compete at the national level. 

​

PHILIPPE SNOY / ARMY WEST POINT / ASSISTANT TENNIS COACH

​

​

On-Site Therapies for Preventive Healthcare has been an amazing benefit for our JKJ employees and clients alike. The therapists are extremely knowledgeable, professional and skilled at on-site chair massage. Employees are so appreciative of this 10-15 minute experience in their workplace. It is the most requested service for on-site health fairs and employee appreciation days. 

​

AMY POWELL / WELLNESS COORDINATOR /

JOHNSON KENDALL & JOHNSON

​

Deanna has an advantageous combination of knowledge, skill, and the physical stamina to perform quality sports massage effectively in team settings. In addition to her expertise addressing sports performance maintenance and enhancement, her interpersonal skills, based on her empathy and interest in the athletes she works on, makes her a valuable addition to the overall care and training of the athletic departments she works with. 

​

TYLER AVERY JOHNSON / OWNER / CORPORATE TOUCH; HANDS-ON STRESS SOLUTIONS

​

​

We hired Deanna to work with our swimmers and divers at Ivy League Championships and she has continued to do so for several years. Her knowledge about massage and how it relates to sports has been a huge asset to our team as they competed. She makes the athletes comfortable and is always professional. 

​

JENNIFER VERSER / ASSISTANT SWIM COACH / DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

​

Have worked with for many years and she is reliable and dependable whether doing work for herself and arranging for others. Highly recommend.

​

JOE LUCIA / HEAD SWIMMING COACH / CORNELL UNIVERSITY

 

 

I've had the pleasure of knowing Deanna since 1995. Her work as a massage therapist is superb-- she has had excellent training and many years of experience working on a broad range of clients. She really excels as a sports massage therapist, partly because she herself has been a competitive athlete and therefore knows the special conditions, problems and stresses facing athletes. She has worked successfully with professional swimmers, rowers, and runners as well as amateur athletes in many sports.

In addition to her outstanding skills, Deanna is a positive, upbeat and pleasant person to be around. She maintains a high level of professionalism while being very down-to-earth in her approach with her clients and co-workers. I would highly recommend Deanna for any type of massage work, especially with athletes.

​

DARBY LINE / MASSAGE & AROMA THERAPIST & EDUCATOR

​

​

Deanna has been our massage therapist for our men’s and women’s Ivy League Championships since 2005. She is very professional and conscientious in her work. Deanna is there for the athletes and treats them with great respect, listening to what they say and helping them through massage to achieve the feeling they need to perform at their peak level. We have been successful under her watch. She takes a genuine interest in our team, and every year our swimmers treat her as one of our staff, even though they only see her for the days our Championships. She is often included in team meals and meetings. I believe her costs are very reasonable. She provides her own transportation to our championship site, only requiring a hotel room for massages during times we are not at the pool. She is very flexible in giving massages and willing to help at almost any time the athletes feel the need, including early in the morning or late at night.

​

JIM WILSON / HEAD SWIMMING COACH / DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

 

 Athlete Endorsements

​

As a four-time World Champion in rowing and Olympic Gold Medalist, it is very important to my training and recovery to have a consistent and thorough massage therapist, and I have found that in Deanna.

​

AMANDA POLK / 2010,'11,'12,'13,'14 W8+ WORLD CHAMPION /

2012 OLYMPIC ROWING ALTERNATE/ 2016 OLYMPIC ROWING GOLD MEDALIST

 

I'm a 2012 graduate from Princeton University, where Deanna worked on me quite regularly throughout my four years with the track and field team. I find it impossible to write about Deanna's massage therapy without writing about Deanna as well. With a background in athletics, she's always understood the importance of the mental aspect of sport. For instance, she's always impressed me by not telling me how tight and tense I feel to ensure I think my time and money is well spent. Instead, the day before an important race where I ended up taking 13 seconds off my personal best time, she told me she couldn't "feel a flaw in my body."
She has done a great job getting me recovered between workouts and getting me ready before races over the four years. She has always been sensitive to what I preferred and was used to, while learning new techniques at the same time. As I move across the country to begin my career as a professional athlete I think I'll struggle to find a replacement that does as good of a job...and is as pleasant to deal with!

​

DONN CABRAL / 2012 OLYMPIAN-3000M STEEPLECHASE / PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

​

​

Deanna's experience and knowledge of the body shows within the first few moments of her work. I appreciate the fact that I'm not only getting quality massage work done that will help me perform at my highest level but also while I'm on her table I'm understanding where my ailments are stemming from. I've had numerous massage therapists all over the world and I will say Deanna's combination of professionalism, vivaciousness and of course skill in her work are of the highest standard I have seen or experiences. I can't wait until our next session!

​

ASHHAD AGYAPONG / 2012 SILVER MEDALIST AFRICA GAMES

 

 

Deanna’s been an absolutely integral part of my collegiate career thus far. I’ve had a terrible history of lower leg injuries that has kept me out of competition for seasons at a time. The massages I receive on a weekly basis has drastically helped with recovery and allowed me to train at a high level. I’ve noticed a significant difference when I receive a massage before a race – it’s that extra pop that gives me the edge that I need. Aside from the effectiveness of the massage, Deanna is professional, cheerful, and talking to her is therapeutic in and of itself. The success that I experienced this past cross country season is undoubtedly due in part to Deanna’s massage therapy.

​

BRIAN LEUNG / CROSS COUNTRY ALL-AMERICAN 2010-2011 / PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

 

 

Deanna was the reason as to why I never got injured during my time as a student-athlete at Princeton. In regards to wellness, she is the perfect combination of theory and practice. On the one hand, her incredible touch and skill at tackling complex muscle issues were crucial to my success and development as a runner. On the other hand, her wise advice in other aspects of my well-being, including mental health, helped me balance my pressures on and off the track. She is not just a well-prepared and incredibly knowledgeable professional, but also a caring and supporting friend who is willing to go the extra mile for all her patients.

​

ALEJANDRO ARROYO YAMI / OXFORD MBA / PRINCETON UNIVERSITY / AUGUST 26, 2017

​

​