Friday, March 31, 2023

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: Tia Ridings
Sport: Softball
Institution: Saint Martin's
Year: Junior
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: Tualatin, Oregon

Why did you choose to attend SMU?: I fell in love with the community and the campus was beautiful!

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why?: One of the classes that I enjoyed the most was planning and assessment. It was a great fit for me because I'm a bit of a type-A personality.

How many years have you been involved in SAAC?: Two years.

What made you want to be involved in SAAC?: The reason I chose to get involved was that I wanted to have the opportunity to make a positive impact and represent the athletes on campus. Being a part of SAAC allows me to voice my opinions and concerns, and work together with other athletes to create positive changes.

What is your most memorable SAAC activity to date?: One of my favorite SAAC activities was volunteering at Our Common Home Farms, which is a community farming program launched by Saint Martin's in collaboration with Pope John Paul II High School. 

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics?: The most important thing I’ve learned so far is that time management is so important. If you can master that and learn the times that you function at your best, you can balance a lot!

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome during your collegiate career?: Having a big ankle surgery this past summer. Not only was it obviously physically challenging but it has also been mentally challenging trying to come back from a major injury.

What are your future goals after graduation?: I hope to become a Kindergarten or first-grade teacher and have a positive impact on my students' lives, similar to how some of my teachers impacted mine.

What is the best advice you would give to an incoming freshman?: It is crucial to prioritize your mental health! Additionally, managing your time effectively can help you stay on track in school, sports and other areas of life.

What is your most memorable sports moment?: During my sophomore year, I pitched a shutout game with a career-high of 14 strikeouts, which remains my most memorable sports moment. Despite my ankle injury, I played through the pain and gave it my all.

Favorite Athlete: Derek Jeter.

What is one thing that people don't know about you?: As someone who is a blend of white, black and Puerto Rican, I take great pride in being a person of color.