Ava Venturelli and Cecilia Kern Named to ACC SAAC
August 17, 2026 | Softball, Rowing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – University of Louisville student-athletes Ava Venturelli of softball and Cecilia Kern of rowing were nominated to represent the Atlantic Coast Conference as members of its 2026-27 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The committee features student-athletes who will help represent the perspectives and priorities of more than 12,200 student-athletes across the league.
Venturelli and Kern are both seniors for the Cardinals, playing active roles in the successes of their respective teams throughout their three years at Louisville.
Each of the ACC's 18 member institutions nominates representatives to SAAC, while members of the Executive Board are selected through a conference-wide vote of their fellow student-athletes.
ACC SAAC provides an important connection between the conference's student-athletes and ACC leadership, giving student-athletes a meaningful voice in legislation, governance, community engagement and initiatives that shape their collegiate experience. In addition to providing feedback on conference and NCAA matters, SAAC members support community service efforts, promote sportsmanship and help advance a positive culture throughout ACC athletics.
2026-27 SAAC representatives
Executive Board
Chair — Henry Gibbs, Georgia Tech
Vice Chair — Ruben Rojas Betanzos, Syracuse
NCAA SAAC Representative — Aubrey Brown, SMU
NCAA SAAC Alternate — Temple Landry, Stanford
Communications Chair — Hailey Kravetz, Pitt
Legislation Committee — Ella Brooks, Clemson
Infractions & Sportsmanship Review Committee — Aubrey Nisbet, Wake Forest
Nominating Committee — Mackenzie Smith, NC State
Media Committee — Henry Gibbs, Georgia Tech
Boston College
Bryce Copeland, Men's Soccer
Audrey Ross, Volleyball
California
Elizabeth Edmonston, Field Hockey
Nate Escalada, Football
Clemson
Ella Brooks, Women's Track & Field
Ive Schulze, Women's Golf
Duke
Cameron Christie, Women's Lacrosse
Nathan Gaviser, Men's Soccer
Florida State
Duce Robinson, Football
Carra Sassack, Beach Volleyball
Georgia Tech
Makayla Coffield, Softball
Henry Gibbs, Men's Swimming & Diving
Louisville
Cecilia Kern, Rowing
Ava Venturelli, Softball
Miami
Emma Gullstrand, Women's Swimming & Diving
Tyson Schiele, Men's Track & Field
North Carolina
Chelsea Thorpe, Volleyball
Katie Vu, Women's Golf
NC State
Isaiah Shirley, Football
Mackenzie Smith, Women's Soccer
Notre Dame
Olivia Levitt, Softball
Leah Macy, Women's Basketball
Pitt
Lola Abraham, Women's Soccer
Hailey Kravetz, Women's Track & Field
SMU
Aubrey Brown, Women's Soccer
Landon Hickam, Men's Soccer
Stanford
Gabriel Ajaegbu, Men's Track & Field
Temple Landry, Women's Gymnastics
Syracuse
Ruben Rojas Betanzos, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
Mara McBride, Rowing
Virginia
Noah Dyer, Men's Swimming & Diving
Elijah Slibeck, Football
Virginia Tech
Jane Brewer, Women's Lacrosse
Dylan DeCambre, Men's Track & Field
Wake Forest
Aubrey Nisbet, Women's Tennis
Vincent Ricchiuti, Men's Basketball
Venturelli and Kern are both seniors for the Cardinals, playing active roles in the successes of their respective teams throughout their three years at Louisville.
Each of the ACC's 18 member institutions nominates representatives to SAAC, while members of the Executive Board are selected through a conference-wide vote of their fellow student-athletes.
ACC SAAC provides an important connection between the conference's student-athletes and ACC leadership, giving student-athletes a meaningful voice in legislation, governance, community engagement and initiatives that shape their collegiate experience. In addition to providing feedback on conference and NCAA matters, SAAC members support community service efforts, promote sportsmanship and help advance a positive culture throughout ACC athletics.
2026-27 SAAC representatives
Executive Board
Chair — Henry Gibbs, Georgia Tech
Vice Chair — Ruben Rojas Betanzos, Syracuse
NCAA SAAC Representative — Aubrey Brown, SMU
NCAA SAAC Alternate — Temple Landry, Stanford
Communications Chair — Hailey Kravetz, Pitt
Legislation Committee — Ella Brooks, Clemson
Infractions & Sportsmanship Review Committee — Aubrey Nisbet, Wake Forest
Nominating Committee — Mackenzie Smith, NC State
Media Committee — Henry Gibbs, Georgia Tech
Boston College
Bryce Copeland, Men's Soccer
Audrey Ross, Volleyball
California
Elizabeth Edmonston, Field Hockey
Nate Escalada, Football
Clemson
Ella Brooks, Women's Track & Field
Ive Schulze, Women's Golf
Duke
Cameron Christie, Women's Lacrosse
Nathan Gaviser, Men's Soccer
Florida State
Duce Robinson, Football
Carra Sassack, Beach Volleyball
Georgia Tech
Makayla Coffield, Softball
Henry Gibbs, Men's Swimming & Diving
Louisville
Cecilia Kern, Rowing
Ava Venturelli, Softball
Miami
Emma Gullstrand, Women's Swimming & Diving
Tyson Schiele, Men's Track & Field
North Carolina
Chelsea Thorpe, Volleyball
Katie Vu, Women's Golf
NC State
Isaiah Shirley, Football
Mackenzie Smith, Women's Soccer
Notre Dame
Olivia Levitt, Softball
Leah Macy, Women's Basketball
Pitt
Lola Abraham, Women's Soccer
Hailey Kravetz, Women's Track & Field
SMU
Aubrey Brown, Women's Soccer
Landon Hickam, Men's Soccer
Stanford
Gabriel Ajaegbu, Men's Track & Field
Temple Landry, Women's Gymnastics
Syracuse
Ruben Rojas Betanzos, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
Mara McBride, Rowing
Virginia
Noah Dyer, Men's Swimming & Diving
Elijah Slibeck, Football
Virginia Tech
Jane Brewer, Women's Lacrosse
Dylan DeCambre, Men's Track & Field
Wake Forest
Aubrey Nisbet, Women's Tennis
Vincent Ricchiuti, Men's Basketball
Players Mentioned
/ Rowing
OF
/ SoftballThursday, September 11
Tuesday, January 24
Tuesday, January 14
Saturday, October 05
