Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

Photo of SAAC
 

The mission of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is to strive to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image. The SAAC is a leadership organization that provides a link of communication between UW-Madison student-athletes and the athletic department administration on relevant issues pertaining to student-athlete well-being. Additionally, SAAC organizes events to network, serve, and develop with each other, the greater UW-Madison campus and the Madison community. SAAC also discusses and provides feedback to the Big 10 Conference SAAC and the NCAA Division I SAAC on important issues that directly affect the student-athlete experience on a conference and national level.

SAAC is made up of two voting representatives from each of the 23 athletic teams here at UW-Madison. Any student-athlete is welcome to attend SAAC meetings and get involved, even if he/she is not a voting representative.

The Executive Board is made up of the President, Vice President and Secretary. The Leadership Board is made up of the Marketing Chair, the Community Service Chair, SAESO Chair, and Campus Outreach Chair.

2021-22 Leadership Board

 
Ben Krongard
President
Ben Krongard
Men's Soccer
 
Peyton Frankenreider
Vice President
Peyton Frankenreider
Men's Track & Field
 
James Catalano
Communications Chair
James Catalano
Men's Rowing
 
Andrew Salemme, Wisconsin Wrestling, 2021-22
Community Service Chair
Andrew Salemme
Wrestling
 
Josh Barth
Campus Outreach Chair
Josh Barth
Men's Rowing
 
Olivia Bratzke
Marketing Chair
Olivia Bratzke
Women's Openweight Rowing
 
Wisconsin Badgers Tracy Lee of the women’s golf team, Thursday, September 9, 2021, in Verona, Wis. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
SAESO Chair
Tracy Lee
Women's Golf
 

Student-Athlete of the Month & Student-Athlete of the Year

"In recognition by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee of excellence on and off the field of competition."

This award was developed by the SAAC in the spring of 1997 in order to recognize the exemplary portrayal of the Badger student-athlete. Nominations will come from coaches and Office of Academic Services & Office of Student-Athlete Development staff members. Nominations are submitted to the SAAC advisor and presented at the designated SAAC meeting. At the meeting, two representatives from each team are eligible to vote. The nominees, one from each sport designated for the specific month, with the popular vote shall claim the award. The following guidelines have been established to determine potential recipients for the award:

  • Be academically eligible and in good academic standing
  • Have obtained an outstanding achievement or recognition in academics
  • Make a significant contribution to their respective team
  • Be actively engaged in community service

At the end of the academic year all of the Student-Athlete of the Month award winners become the nominees for the Student-Athlete of the Year Award. All student-athletes will have an opportunity to vote for the Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Month. The winners are announced at the annual Buckinghams.

2020-21 Student-Athletes of the Month

September:
Football - Adam Krumholz
Women's Cross Country - Sarah Schulze
Women's Soccer - Grace Douglas

October:
Men's Cross Country - Rowen Ellenberg
Men's Soccer - Justin Bobb
Volleyball - Sydney Hilley

November:
Men's Basketball - Micah Potter
Men's Hockey - Ty Emberson
Women's Hockey - Grace Bowlby
Men's Swimming and Diving - Drew Nixdorf

December:
Women's Swimming and Diving - Phoebe Bacon
Wrestling - Tyler Dow
Women's Basketball - Sydney Hilliard

January
Men's Track & Field - George Ghafari
Women's Track & Field - Josie Schaefer

February:
Women's Tennis - Xinyu Cai
Men's Tennis - Gabriel Huber
Women's Golf - Tracy Lee
Men's Golf - Robbie Morway

March:
Softball - Megan Donahue
Men's Rowing - Adam Wehking
Women's Openweight Rowing - Isa Darvin
Women's Lightweight Rowing - Grace D'Souza

SAAC History - Past SAAC Presidents

Year President Sport
2020-21 Eden Rane Women's Rowing
2019-20 Tess Hackworthy Women's Golf
2018-19 Matt Aronson Men's Swimming & Diving
2017-18 Kelysey Grambeau Women's Tennis
2016-17 Kelysey Grambeau Women's Tennis
2015-16 Katie Delaney Women's Swimming & Diving
2014-15 Katie Delaney Women's Swimming & Diving
2013-14 Kodee Williams Women's Soccer
2012-13 Kodee Williams Women's Soccer
2011-12 Lauren Cochlin Women's Soccer
2010-11 Lauren Cochlin Women's Soccer
2009-10 Sara Goff Women's Swimming & Diving
2008-09 Nick Fulton Men's Swimming & Diving
2007-08 Janese Banks Women's Basketball
2006-07 Jill Ries Women's Golf
2005-06 Nate Brown Men's Track
2004-05 Boo Gillette Softball
2003-04 Boo Gillette Softball
2002-03 Tessa Molter Lightweight Crew
2001-02 Siobhan Kernan Women's Swimming & Diving
2000-01 Mike Cerniglia Men's Hockey
1999-00 Mike Cerniglia Men's Hockey
1998-99 Lindsay Buswell Volleyball
1997-98 Bich-ty Lee Women's Crew
1996-97 Sandy Moran Women's Track

For information on future meetings and events contact Cassaundra Thorpe at CT3@athletics.wisc.edu.