ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Eckerd men's tennis player Mario Kirkov has been selected to the Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as the Sunshine State Conference representative.
"This opportunity to be on the National SAAC is the next step in my development as a student-athlete, but also as a person. It's an honor to have a chance to impact the lives of all student-athletes in Division II. I want to get a lot of valuable skills and knowledge out of this opportunity that are going to help me in my future career," stated Kirkov. "I also want to be an even stronger leader for everyone on campus that they can rely on and show them that our voice matters and that we can make a difference no matter where we come from."
Kirkov, from Lubotice, Slovakia, is a rising junior and has served on Eckerd's SAAC for two years, participating in many initiatives, including the holiday reading tour, volunteering with the local triathlon, and "be the match" campaign. He is a recipient of the SSC Spring Commissioner's Honor Roll and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. He has played in 34 matches, with 13 singles wins and 14 doubles wins.
"We are incredibly proud of Mario for being selected to serve as the SSC's National SAAC Representative. It's always an honor when someone from our Eckerd community is chosen to lead at the national level, representing not just our institution but our entire conference," stated Associate Athletic Director/SWA Becky Clark, who serves as the staff advisor for Eckerd's SAAC. "From the start, we knew Mario was the right choice—he consistently embodies the values of Division II and leads with integrity, purpose, and passion. "
Kirkov is scheduled to serve as the SSC representative on the national committee through January 15, 2028. He becomes the first Triton since 2013 to serve on the national SAAC.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) serves as the primary governance arm representing student-athlete interests in Division II affairs. SAAC members serve as student-athlete liaisons that monitor and discuss happenings on campuses, within conferences, and at the national level.
