BLUE ASH, Ohio – An expanded group of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) joined forces at Matthew 25 Ministries as part of the league’s annual meetings.
Representatives from the five incoming 2017-18 Great Midwest institutions, Findlay, Hillsdale, Lake Erie, Ohio Dominican and Walsh, all attended with committee members from the eight current schools.
After arriving on Monday, the group was able to enjoy a beautiful night at the ballpark, that is Great American Ball Park, to take in a Cincinnati Reds/Cleveland Indians baseball game.
On Tuesday, the Great Midwest SAAC returned for the second straight year to Matthew 25 Ministries, an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization helping more than 20 million people in need each year.
After sorting through gallons and gallons of paint to be reused in the 2016 community service visit, committee members went through and organized multiple bags of pads that could be used for medical emergencies.
The G-MAC SAAC also collaboratively raised $8,500 as a group to contribute to the NCAA Division II initiative towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Cedarville and Kentucky Wesleyan had also participated in the Team IMPACT program, welcoming and embracing Payton Stephens (volleyball) and 12-year old Allyson (women’s basketball).
G-MAC SAAC President Jes Hicks (Ursuline) addressed the Great Midwest Joint Council on Wednesday, detailing some of the takeaways from the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn., and updating the group on progress made in the 2016-17 academic year.
The spring meeting also signified an end to the G-MAC SAAC’s A.C.T.S. (Athletes Collecting Toiletries in Service) campaign. Student-athletes from the league’s institutions gather shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion and other items from hotel rooms. They are donated to a shelter in need.
The final gathering for the group was the Spring Awards Banquet at the Cooper Creek Event Center on Tuesday night.
The spring meetings were conducted at the Embassy Suites hotel in Blue Ash and organized by Great Midwest SWA/Operations Coordinator Natalie Fiorenza.
"Spending time with the G-MAC Spring SAAC Student Athlete representatives over the past few days was a very enjoyable and rewarding time," she said. "Having our newer schools send representatives made for a large and lively group conversation. The sharing of ideas, goals, questions, and concerns made for a successful, energetic, and motivational meeting. I look forward to the wonderful accomplishments this group of student-athletes will bring to the table this upcoming year, on and off the playing field."
2017 Spring Meeting SAAC Attendees:
Alanna Kelley (Alderson Broaddus – Acrobatics & Tumbling)
Taylor England (Alderson Broaddus – Women’s Tennis)
Marc Russel (Cedarville – Baseball)
Cassie Brown (Cedarville – Cheerleading)
Javier Sanchez (Davis & Elkins – Swimming & Diving)
Tessa Stewart (Davis & Elkins – Women’s Soccer)
Austen Gardner (Findlay – Men’s Basketball)
Madison Arnold (Findlay – Softball)
Dugan Delp (Hillsdale – Men’s Tennis)
Scotty Penola (Hillsdale – Football)
De’Vonta Moffitt (Kentucky Wesleyan – Football)
Ally Dipre (Lake Erie – Women’s Soccer)
Jordan Jernigan (Lake Erie – Women’s Soccer)
Brian Cassler (Malone – Track & Field)
Katie Grimes (Malone – Track & Field/XC)
Sarah Futscher (Ohio Dominican – Women’s Basketball)
Tre McIntyre (Ohio Dominican – Football)
Danielle Tyson (Trevecca Nazarene – Softball)
Jes Hicks (Ursuline – Track & Field/XC)
Mary Egan (Ursuline – Track & Field)
Kayla Cool (Ursuline – Track & Field)
Madison Music (Walsh – Volleyball)
Karley Dougherty (Walsh – Track & Field)
Ryan Scanlan (Lake Erie)
Abby Stoner (Alderson Broaddus)