Aug. 2, 2007

STEPHENVILLE, Texas - Over 30 Lone Star Conference student-athletes and athletic administrators converged on Stephenville, Texas, July 29-30 for the league's second annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Summer Retreat.

The two-day event, which took place on the Tarleton State University campus, allowed an opportunity for student representatives from the LSC member institutions to discuss key issues involving the conference.

SAAC Summer Retreat participants arrived on Sunday, July 29, and took part in an afternoon meeting session followed by dinner and bowling. The retreat continued Monday, July 30, with a team-building activity at the Tarleton Challenge Course.

A variety of topics were discussed during the retreat including sportsmanship initiatives, LSC Community Service Week, LSC SAAC Operating Code and other conference issues.

"The retreat was a success because of the quality of student-athletes involved," said Jay Poerner, LSC assistant commissioner who oversees the conference SAAC efforts. "The group was able to have a little fun, get to know each other and share their opinions on a variety of important conference issues."

Twelve of the LSC's 15 member institutions were represented at the meeting, with Cameron University basketball player Tiffany Williams serving as meeting chair. Williams, along with Angelo State baseball player Christopher Odom, represents the LSC on the NCAA Division II National SAAC.

Williams will be the chair of the LSC SAAC through the group's next meeting in November, then Tarleton track and field athlete Kaitlin Warren will take over for a one-year term as the group's chair.

Other student-athlete's who attended the Summer Retreat were Angelo State's Daniel Thomas and Lauren Weishuhn, Cameron's Jarrett Bailey, Central Oklahoma's Emily Bounds, East Central's Jake Robbins and Danielle Clark, Northeastern State's Ben Rovenstine and Brooke Smith, Southeastern Oklahoma's Kyle Phifer and Stephanie Heald, Southwestern Oklahoma's Chris Morrison and Laci Kelplinger, Tarleton's Pedro Rodriguez and Warren, Texas A&M-Commerce's Kenny Ford, Texas A&M-Kingsville's Issac Saldivar and Felicia Soza, Texas Woman's Abby Arledge and Jessica Crow, and West Texas A&M's Charly Martin and Natalie Johnson.