NDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Two PacWest student-athletes were appointed to the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), following the NCAA Convention last month. Dixie State sophomore Gabby Cabanero (women’s basketball) and Dominican sophomore Anthony Sassano (men’s cross country) begin their terms immediately and will serve through January 2019.
 
Cabanero was named the PacWest representative and Sassano was named one of two at-large representatives. This marks the first time that the PacWest Conference has had two members of the NCAA SAAC.
 
“We are proud of Gabby and Anthony for achieving this tremendous and historic accomplishment for the PacWest Conference,” said PacWest Commissioner Bob Hogue. “They earned these honors through their dedication to the PacWest SAAC and we look forward to working with them at the national level over the next year.”
 
The SAAC serves as the primary governance arm representing student-athlete interests in Division II affairs. SAAC members serve as student-athlete liaisons that monitor and discuss happenings on campuses, within conference and at the national level.
 
A two-year member of the women’s basketball team, Cabanero has been heavily involved with SAAC and organized the Trunk or Treat Halloween activity this year. She holds a 3.4 GPA in computer science and was an Academic All-PacWest selection last year.
 
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be selected for the NCAA Division II SAAC,” Cabanero said. “This is a huge opportunity to exemplify the many characteristics I have, while ensuring to represent the student-athletes and Dixie State University to the fullest."
 
A two-year member of the men’s cross country team, Sassano has been heavily involved with the Dominican and PacWest SAAC. He holds a 3.54 GPA in health science and was an Academic All-PacWest selection last year.
 
"I am so grateful for this opportunity to represent Dominican University of California and the PacWest Conference on a national level,” Sassano said. “This is a chance to have a voice in bettering the student-athlete experience not only at the university and conference levels, but nationally as well."
 
Currently, SAAC is comprised of 27 members, including representatives from each of the 24 Division II multisport voting conferences, one representative of Division II independent institutions, and two at-large representatives. Additionally, two members of the Management Council and one member of the Presidents Council serve as ex-officio and nonvoting members.  SAAC representatives are responsible for gathering feedback and reporting on behalf of their conference, as well as relaying important events, hot topics and educational information to both the campus and conference levels. In addition to relaying information across campuses and conferences, the committee speaks on behalf of the entire Division II student-athlete body throughout the NCAA governance structure.
 
Division II SAAC members serve as voting members on a number of Division II committees, including the Management Council. The SAAC also has voting authority during the Division II Business Session at the annual NCAA Convention.