Kristyn Russell

Brady Hively

Tristan Murray

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Three Wittenberg University student-athletes and two athletic department administrators attended an NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference in Indianapolis Jan. 21-23.

The student-athletes — Tristan Murray, a junior football player from New Carlisle, Ohio, Brady Hively, a junior men's soccer player from Baltimore, Ohio, and Kristyn Russell, a junior women's tennis player from Loveland, Ohio — are all active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at Wittenberg. They were invited to participate in the conference "to discuss opportunities and challenges specific to their division and to prepare student-athletes for leadership in a diverse and dynamic society," according to the NCAA news release. Wittenberg Director of Athletics and Recreation Garnett Purnell and Tooti Snider, assistant to the director of athletics and SAAC adviser, joined them.

The conference included sessions on how to make SAAC effective on individual campuses, how to enforce NCAA anti-gambling legislation, nutritional needs for student-athletes, team-building activities, embracing differences, sportsmanship and working with athletics administration. In addition, NCAA President Myles Brand addressed the conference.

Russell, an education major and a three-year starter on the women's tennis team, said the conference exceeded her expectations and provided all of the Wittenberg participants with many new ideas about how to improve the student-athlete experience on campus.

"I hope to convey to students on my team and in SAAC that each of their leadership roles are important, no matter what style they possess," said Russell, Wittenberg SAAC president. "Additionally, I am excited about the prospect of starting a Spirit Club at Wittenberg that will help bring athletes and non-athletes together to support all of our athletic teams while exercising school pride."

The student-athletes attending the Division III Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference represented a wide array of intercollegiate sports. The Division III SAAC, a national "voice of the student-athlete" within the NCAA governance structure, had a strong presence at the conference by facilitating select sessions.

"I gained valuable knowledge regarding the NCAA, SAAC and leadership," Russell said. "I had the opportunity to meet many other athletes and discuss important ideas and issues. Each person that I met provided me with new insights on my role as a leader and how I can make a difference at Wittenberg."

Snider said the Wittenberg student-athletes involved in the conference are now being asked to create action plans based on the lessons learned in Indianapolis.

"This was a great experience for me and our student-athletes," said Snider, who was an all-conference women's soccer player at the University of Findlay before graduating in 2001. "Any time we can help our student-athletes improve their leadership abilities and give them an opportunity to interact with student-athletes from other campuses is great.

"As an administrator, it is my responsibility to guide the three student-athletes through their action plan and make sure they get the resources needed to carry out their plans."

Wittenberg's SAAC is a campus committee assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. As a group, those involved offer input on the rules, regulations and polices that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. The organization has seven scheduled meetings during the 2004-05 school year and has organized several community events in recent years, including a toy collection as part of the Toys for Tots program sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps. and Kids' Day, which brings local elementary school students to campus for games and discussions on the concepts of sportsmanship, leadership and ethical behavior.