Nick Nelson new SAAC President

Dear Friends,

It is my pleasure to inform you that our very own Nick Nelson is has been selected as the new president of the of the University of Virginia's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. This is a huge honor for Nick and we are all very proud of him.

As many of you know, Nick is one of our most accomplished wrestlers on the mat. He is an NCAA qualifier who narrowly missed All America honors in the 2009 season. What you may not know about Nick is that he has had tremendous success academically (he earned a 3.25 GPA last semester) as well. Nick has dedicated himself to sharpening his leadership skills and we feel this position will do just that. Here is a brief look at what a SAAC representative does:

Mission Statement of the National SAACs--"The mission of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image."

The SAAC committee is comprised of both female and male student-athletes charged with the responsibility of assisting in the review of NCAA proposed legislation and representing the voice of the student-athlete in the NCAA governance structure. This is accomplished by providing student-athlete input on issues related to student-athlete welfare that are division-specific.

Duties and Obligations:

•Generate a student-athlete voice within the NCAA structure.

•Solicit student-athlete response to proposed NCAA legislation.

•Recommend potential NCAA legislation.

•Review, react and comment to the governance structure on legislation,

activities and subjects of interest.

•Actively participate in the administrative process of athletics

programs and the NCAA.

•Promote a positive student-athlete image.

Essentially, Nick will be the voice of the University of Virginia's student-athletes to the University's Athletic Department and Administration, the ACC conference, and the NCAA. Again, we couldn't be prouder of what our student athletes have accomplished over this past season academically and in our University community. 

Yours in wrestling,

Coach Garland