ARLINGTON, Texas – A total of 17 student-athletes representing all nine full-time members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) were included on the initial roster for the 2024-25 academic year edition of the WAC Student-Athlete Emerging Leaders group.

Student-athletes from WAC member institutions that are non-WAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives were selected to the roster of conference emerging leaders. The emerging leaders representatives were chosen by athletics administrators on respective WAC member campuses and are under the stewardship of WAC Associate Commissioner for Compliance and Governance Marlon Edge.

Entering its second academic year, the WAC Student-Athlete Emerging Leaders, along with WAC SAAC, will participate in yearlong programming as part of the WAC Career and Leadership Professional Development Series throughout 2024-25. The series is a conference-led academic initiative aimed at enhancing student-athletes’ potential for leadership to be able to make
significant contributions to teams, departments, and organizations.

WAC Student-Athlete Emerging Leaders programming for the current academic year will feature a partnership with Brandon Vega, author, entrepreneur, professor and the founder of Conscious Collective, LLC, and the E.A.T.N. Project (Exist Above the Noise). The purpose of the E.A.T.N. Project is to foster greater impact through academic performance, character development, conscious decision-making, leadership, and goal setting. Members of both WAC Student-Athlete Emerging Leaders and WAC SAAC will take part in nine different online workshops labeled Conscious Conversations.

2024-25 WAC Student-Athlete Emerging Leaders Roster
Zion Stephens, Baseball, Abilene Christian University
Sydney Williams, Women’s Golf, Abilene Christian University
Eliana Posada, Volleyball, California Baptist University
Destinee Duran-Wise, Women’s Soccer, Grand Canyon University
Conner Kittleson, Men’s Track and Field, Grand Canyon University
Jaisen Abner, Baseball, Seattle University
Erin Goya, Volleyball, Seattle University
Nathan Carlin, Men’s Cross Country, Southern Utah University
Makayla Pitcher, Women’s Cross Country, Southern Utah University
Mason Kirk, Baseball, Tarleton State University
Sydney Rouillard, Women’s Soccer, Tarleton State University
Kailee Bautista, Softball, University of Texas at Arlington
Ayden Nyanasimeibi, Men’s Track and Field, University of Texas at Arlington
Kennedi Knudsen, Volleyball, Utah Tech University
Aaron Perez, Baseball, Utah Tech University
Danja Collins, Women’s Basketball, Utah Valley University
Kade Thompson, Men’s Track and Field, Utah Valley University

2024-25 WAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Roster
Ella Beeman, Softball, Abilene Christian University
Horatio Brooks II, Men’s Track and Field, Abilene Christian University
Kalena Burns, Softball, California Baptist University (President)
John Sullivan, Men’s Swimming and Diving, California Baptist University
Atuhaire Ambala, Men’s Swimming and Diving, Grand Canyon University
Brynn-Jordan Smythe, Softball, Grand Canyon University
Liliya Dimova, Women’s Tennis, Seattle University
Niko Fotopoulos, Men’s Basketball, Seattle University
Addison Larsen, Women’s Soccer, Southern Utah University
Jared Sharp, Men’s Track and Field, Southern Utah University
Zoe Lam, Women’s Soccer, Tarleton State University
Mary Kate Stasevich, Volleyball, Tarleton State University
Alexis Bull, Volleyball, University of Texas at Arlington (Vice President)
Mikeya Washington, Women’s Track and Field, University of Texas at Arlington
Emily Isaacson, Women’s Basketball, Utah Tech University
Haiden Drury, Wrestling, Utah Valley University
Oakley Olson, Women’s Track and Field, Utah Valley University
Anthony Egbo, Jr., Abilene Christian University (NCAA DI SAAC Representative)