Wexler Named CCC SAAC Associate Member

CCC SAAC WEBPAGE | CCC NCAA DIII SAAC REPRESENTATIVES | NCAA DIVISION III SAAC

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Western New England field hockey student-athlete Zoey Wexler (Manchester, Conn.) was named as the Commonwealth Coast Conference's (CCC) NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Associate Member on Thursday (March 9) afternoon.

Wexler will serve a one-year term that will expire following the NCAA Convention in January 2024. She is the third WNE student-athlete to represent the conference on that national level as former men's soccer student-athlete Arcel Kabongo-Ngoy filled the role from 2018 to 2021 while men's tennis student-athlete Mike Raymond filled the role in 2002.

"I am extremely honored to have been selected to represent the CCC on a national level," said Wexler. "It truly is a tremendous privilege - one that I accept with great humility. I can't wait to get started and intend to represent the CCC and all its student-athletes in a distinguished manner."

As an NCAA DIII SAAC Associate Member, Wexler will act as the liaison between the CCC and NCAA DIII SAAC member Benedetto (Daniele) Iaboni (Whitby, Ontario) from Anna Maria in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). Iaboni represents both his own conference and the CCC on national SAAC as the primary member through the committee's partner-conference structure. His term on the national committee will also conclude following next year's NCAA Convention. 

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee represents the Division III student-athlete voice in the Division III governance structure by reviewing legislation; identifying significant student-athlete issues; implementing national student-athlete based initiatives; encouraging community outreach; and enhancing Division III student-athlete involvement in and understanding of Division III in general. The SAAC is also the committee that is primarily responsible for maintaining and coordinating the division's nationwide partnership with Special Olympics.

"The things Zoey has accomplished at her own institution really impressed us as we were looking for our next representative on national SAAC," said CCC Associate Commissioner and Conference SAAC advisor Doug Chin. "We had several excellent candidates for the position, but her accomplishments really stood out. We are confident she will do an excellent job representing the Conference on a national level."

Wexler replaces former Roger Williams volleyball student-athlete Allie Welch (Marlborough, Conn.), who concluded her two-year term as the CCC's NCAA DIII SAAC Associate Member at the end of the 2023 NCAA Convention in San Antonio in January.

Following Wexler's one-year term as an Associate Member, she and any other interested CCC student-athletes will have the opportunity to submit a nomination to become the CCC's Primary Member on NCAA DIII SAAC. That position will be selected by the NCAA DIII Nominating Committee based on the needs of National SAAC.

What They're Saying:

"Congratulations to Zoey for her appointment as a Division III SAAC Associate Member. Zoey exemplifies the ideal Golden Bear student-athlete; she is smart and excels in the classroom, she competes at an elite level her sport of field hockey, and she is thoroughly engaged in improving the student-athlete experience and her world through her selfless service on SAAC.  She is a leader in every way and her appointment representing the Commonwealth Coast Conference and Western New England University makes us so proud and we know she will do great work on behalf of all Division III student-athletes."
- Dino L. Pollock, Esq., WNE Director of Athletics and Recreation

"Zoey is one of the most mature and responsible student-athletes I have worked with. She is an incredible teammate, student, and leader and we are so fortunate to have her. Zoey will represent our program, our University, SAAC, and the CCC with grace and confidence and I am so happy that her efforts and character are recognized and that she was selected to represent the CCC on a national scale. We are all very proud!" 
- Kyle Lyons, WNE Field Hockey Head Coach

"Zoey has the innate ability to inspire action from leading by example, and she has made a tremendous impact during her involvement as a SAAC rep and Life Skills mentor. It is fitting that the Conference office has recognized her to represent on the national level." 
- Jennifer Kolins, WNE Associate Athletics Director for Student Athlete Development

"I can think of no one better for the job than Zoey, she's as reliable as she is driven. Whether it is academics, athletics, or extracurriculars, she goes all in with the best intentions and puts the needs of her peers before herself. She perfectly embodies what a Golden Bear should be, and I have no doubts that she will bring her passionate positive energy to the table at the CCC."
- Abby Burns, WNE Field Hockey Senior Captain