Latham, NY- The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) is pleased to announce the members of the 2018-19 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). This year, 14 new members will join the SAAC teaming with eight returning members who served as juniors last year. The committee is comprised of two student-athlete representatives (one male and one female) from each of the 11 sections in New York State. A total of 61 student-athletes applied to be members of this year’s SAAC.
The SAAC was developed to encourage and facilitate involvement of student-athletes within NYSPHSAA. Over the course of the school year, the committee will discuss topics of concern to high school student-athletes and examine and develop ways to address those concerns to help student-athletes maintain a positive athletic experience.
One of the primary goals of the SAAC this year will be to create a mental health initiative to help student-athletes around the state who confront mental health issues. Furthermore, members of NYSPHSAA SAAC hope to expand and create student committees within their own section. Sections IV, VIII, and XI are among the sections who have begun the process.
The 2018-2019 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is listed below:
*indicates new member
Section Student School
I Jacob Fridakis* Briarcliff High School
Jessica Polvino* Clarkstown North Senior High School
2 Toussaint Santicola Jones* Albany High School
Grace Wysocki Hoosick Falls Jr/Sr High School
III Richard Francisco* West Genesee Senior High School
Chloe Williams* Holland Patent Central High School
IV Jasper Koota Delaware Academy High School
Alli Miller* Bainbridge-Guilford High School
V Ryan Reynolds* Canaseraga School
Payton Powers Dalton-Nunda High School
VI Clayton Osborne Williamsville-East High School
Mindy Doktor* Akron High School
VII Terrence Benedict* Ticonderoga Senior High School
Allison Post Peru Secondary School
VIII Kevin Carratu* Manhasset Secondary School
Olivia Rodriguez South Side High School
IX Deeya Modhwadiya Newburgh Free Academy
Ryan Strobach* Wallkill Senior High School
X Andy Downs* H C Williams Senior High School
Sydney Levison* Norwood-Norfolk School
XI Erin Holler* Smithtown High School – East
Matthew Weltmann Half Follow Hills High School East
“In the three years since the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was formed we have seen tremendous results from the student leaders selected to serve,” said Robert Zayas NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “This group of young men and women are dedicated to helping student-athletes across the state and give their teammates and fellow competitors a voice within NYSPHSAA.”
The SAAC will meet via teleconference four times during the school year. They will also have an opportunity to collaborate in person at the 2nd Annual SAAC Summit held in Syracuse in November. The first meeting will take place Sunday, September 16.
