The New York State Public High School Athletic Association 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 two students from Section XI are Erin Holler from Smithtown East and Matt Weltmann from Hills East.

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.

We will share more information about the Section XI SAAC in coming weeks.