GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) announced the third annual winners for the Conference Carolinas SAAC Student-Athlete of the Year. Jacob Oliver of Barton College and Ellie Ripchik of Belmont Abbey College were selected.

Oliver, a member of the Barton men’s track & field team, serves as the SAAC Vice President. He has become a leader for the Bulldog track & field and cross country teams with a passion for seeing his peers excel.

Ripchik serves at Belmont Abbey’s SAAC Secretary and is a member of the softball team as well as the SAAC and Sports Management Club’s executive boards. She helped the Belmont Abbey SAAC raise more than $10,000 for Make-A-Wish, a new record.

The SAAC Student-Athlete of the Year (one male and one female) is voted and awarded each April with the award being recognized again at the in-person SAAC meeting each September. Nominees must be a member of Conference Carolinas SAAC. The winners are voted on by each campus SAAC.

Previous Winners
2025-26: Female: Ellie Ripchik, Belmont Abbey Softball; Male: Jacob Oliver, Barton Men’s Track & Field
2024-25: Female: Ioanna Katoudi, Barton Women’s Tennis; Male: Zach Cramer, Belmont Abbey Men’s Volleyball
2023-24: Female: Avery Congleton, Mount Olive Field Hockey; Male: Clayton Zimmerman, Belmont Abbey Men’s Volleyball