Council for Student-Athletes

Mission
The Mount Mercy University Council for Student-Athletes (CSA) promotes leadership through engagement, research, education, and collaboration that will benefit the total development of Mount Mercy’s student-athletes and their respective sports teams.

CSA Purpose
The charge of CSA is to serve both in oversight and advisory capacities to the Mount Mercy University Athletics Department with an outcome to include the development and delivery of services, programming, and policy recommendations that assist student-athletes achieve success, health, and welfare.

CSA Goals

• Act as a voice for all student-athletes at Mount Mercy.
• Solicit student-athlete input on reviewable discussion topics.
• Review, assess, and make recommendations on all matters and present to the athletic department.
• Ensure student-athletes train and compete in a safe and healthy environment.
• Promote and participate in the NAIA and Mount Mercy Champion of Character initiatives.
• Boost the positive image and impact student-athletes have as role models and mentors.
• Create a connection for student-athlete representation on university, conference, and NAIA committees and conferences.
• Advocate for an affirming, rewarding, and enriching experience as an NAIA student-athlete at Mount Mercy.
• Encourage comradery, teamwork, and common purpose between teams and student-athletes.

2024-25 Council for Student-Athletes Executive Board

CSA Membership

• The membership of the CSA should be equitable by gender and representative of the diversity and scope of Mount Mercy’s student-athlete population.

• Each member serves as a liaison between the CSA and their respective sports team.

• The CSA will be led by a student-athlete Executive Board elected by the membership and serve one-year terms.

• The Executive Board will consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Champions of Character Director, and Leadership Director.

• Each sports team will have at least two voting members, with no term limit. The exact number of team representatives could be determined in direct relation to maintenance roster sizes.

• Student-athletes can apply or be nominated by their head coach or current CSA members.

• Ideal representation would include at least one upperclassman (Jr-Sr) and one underclassman (Fr-So).

• All Executive Board members and sports team representatives must meet eligibility requirements set forth by the NAIA and Mount Mercy.

2024-25 CSA Membership List
Cedric Dunwald, Drew Turner (baseball)
Haleigh Eakins, Nasharia Patterson (competitive cheer)
Claire Jones, Mariah Lake (competitive dance)
Aidan Yamiloski, James Aschenbrenner (men's basketball)
Ryan Julian, Alex Pike (men's bowling)
Ryan Mitchell, Brady Cortez (men's cross country)
Sean Hinerichsen, Simeon Jauhiainen (men's golf)
Diego Carrasco, Alejandro Cuende (men's soccer)
Ceondae Adams, Ky Kaufmann (men's track & field)
Quinn Van Horn, Jordy Smith (men's volleyball)
Mia Petersen, Raquel Trolliet (softball)
Sadie Struchen, Isabel Wallschlaeger (women's basketball)
Carly Zuklin, Emma Punter (women's bowling)
Kilee Flockhart, Emma Althoff (women's cross country)
Kaitlin Hotchkiss, Lauren McPhillips-Newcomb (women's golf)
Elyse Habersetzer, Isabelle Kluesner (women's soccer)
Grace Kelly, Catie Reittinger (women's track & field)
Mary Kate Bendlage, Hailey Hested (women's volleyball)
Taylor Vranes, Kylie Claeys (women's lacrosse)

CSA Mentorship
Our current Faculty Athletic Representative will serve as CSA mentor and attend monthly meetings and guide the CSA Executive Board and aid in the CSA membership selection processes.

CSA Advisory Board
The CSA Advisory Board will be utilized by the CSA in a consultative capacity and will not be mandated to attend monthly meetings. Sole purpose is to provide guidance relative to CSA business and the CSA Advisory Board member’s area of expertise. Suggested or potential CSA Advisory Board members can include but are not limited to, the athletic director, graduate assistant for athletic administration, sports information director, graduate assistant for sports information, head athletic trainer, Champion of Character liaison, faculty mentors, head coaches, or other members invited by the CSA.

CSA Meetings

• CSA meetings should take place once per month, September-May of each academic year for approximately one hour.

• Meetings to include executive board, team representatives, and CSA advisors (as needed).

• A separate executive board meeting may take place the week prior to the full meeting to discuss potential agenda items.

• Any Mount Mercy student-athlete may attend the meeting and voice a concern by communicating with an executive board member, CSA member, or CSA advisor

CSA Executive Board Responsibilities

• Attend all board meetings and CSA monthly meetings

• Assist in the creation of the monthly meeting agenda

• Coordinate all CSA initiatives and encourage participation from all CSA representatives and teammates.

• Communicate with CSA Advisory Board as needed

• Present suggestions and input to athletic administration following monthly meetings.

• Represent the CSA on university committees and task forces.

• Represent Mount Mercy at Heart of America Athletic Conference Association of Student-Athletes (ASA) conferences.

• Potential to be nominated and selected to the NAIA-ASA and represent Mount Mercy and the Heart at the annual NAIA Convention.

CSA Team Representative Responsibilities

• Attend all monthly meetings.

• Be an active participant.

• Be aware of issues and concerns among the constituency of student-athletes.

• Disseminate information from CSA meetings to respective teams.

• Contribute to sub-committees and task forces shaped to research and educate membership, executive board, advisory board, and athletic administration.