Friday, April 29, 2022

Part of a regular series.

Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes who are members of their respective institutions’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In addition to providing feedback on the student-athlete experience, conference and institutional SAAC members also offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

Name: Stacia Conely
Sport: Women’s Soccer
Institution: Central Washington University
Year: Freshman
Major: Law and Justice
Hometown: Reno, Nevada

Why Did You Choose To Attend CWU?: The environment reminded me a lot of home and the girls on the team instantly gave me a welcoming feeling. I felt as if I belonged.

What Is Your Favorite College Class And Why?: Intro to law and justice, because that is my intended major and I was very excited to begin studying what I have always wanted to study. I have loved all my law and justice professors so far.

Who Is Your Favorite Professor?: Robert Claridge, who taught my Law in American History class. He was very warm and welcoming and he made sure we understood the history we would need to know to get a degree in law and justice.

How Many Years Have You Been Involved In SAAC?: This is my first year.

Why Did You Choose To Get Involved With SAAC?: I wanted to make new friends and be more involved in my school.

What Has Been The Most Memorable SAAC Activity?: Our school did a lip-sync activity in the fall and my team dressed up as the cast of Sesame Street.

How Do You Feel Participating In SAAC Will Help You After You Graduate?: SAAC will help me grow my confidence in speaking to a group of people and being more social, especially as a member on the executive board. It will help me learn to be able to do things that might feel uncomfortable at first.

If You Could Change One NCAA Rule, What Would It Be?: No matter the sport or gender, every sport should have at least one paid, full-time assistant coach.

What Have You Learned From Needing To Balance Athletics And Academics?: There are a lot of things on our plate as a student-athlete and we need to make sure we have an even amount of school, sport, alone time and social time. Without balance, life is hard and we may feel uneasy.

What Is The Biggest Obstacle You Have Overcome During Your Collegiate Career?: Getting used to being 11 hours from home.

What Does It Mean To You To Be A Division II Student-Athlete?: Being a Division II athlete is challenging, but the Division II athletics programs have some of the strongest people I have ever met. We are challenged every day to be 100% fully motivated in school and when we step on the pitch. It is hard to be a student and an athlete at once and those who were chosen to be here are here for a reason. The GNAC has given me an opportunity to grow, to become stronger mentally and help me become a better person. I will never take that for granted.

Who Is Your Current Mentor?: My new coach, Lindsey Lee. She came into our program showing us it is okay to be ourselves and have off days, but as she does that, she makes sure each of us are on our A-game and ready to go. She has changed this program for the better and I am very grateful for her.

What Are Your Future Goals After Graduating?: I want to attend law school and either become a criminal defense lawyer or a private investigator.

What Advice Would You Have For An Incoming Freshman?: Make yourself uncomfortable. Do things that would push you out of your comfort zone. If you’re quiet, be vocal, if you're an introvert, go out. Be uncomfortable, it will help you grow.

If You Could Spend The Day With One Person, Who Would It Be?: My great grandfather who passed away three years ago. Growing up, he taught me many of the things I need to know to survive. He was another father to me and a best friend. He was and still is my biggest role model.

Favorite Sports Team: My favorite sports team would be the one I am on right now. The CWU women's soccer team has taught me to love myself and learn to love the strengths and weaknesses of the women I have around me.

Favorite Athlete: (U.S. Women’s National Team star) Julie Ertz. She is an inspiration on and off of the field, she is currently pregnant, and everyone loves her. She is one of the sweetest women on this earth.

Extracurricular Activities: Youth soccer coach, adventurer

What’s Something People Don’t Know About You?: My guilty pleasure is pickles.