Marshall University Athletics
'Welcome Back' Event Salutes Marshall Student-Athletes
8/17/2026 6:00:00 PM | General
2026-27 SAAC Officers also announced as students return to campus
2026-27 'Welcome Back' Event Photo Gallery
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Athletics officially ushered in the 2026-27 academic year for its student-athletes with a "Welcome Back" event, hosted by the Student-Athlete Success Center.
More than 400 Marshall student-athletes from the university's athletics programs took part in discussions at the Dutch Miller Deck and the Brad D. Smith Auditorium before convening in the concourse at Joan C. Edwards Stadium for a themed event geared to create memories and build camaraderie in advance of the first day of 2026-27 classes.
"We are excited to welcome our sons and daughters of Marshall back to campus for the 2026–27 year," said Gerald J. Harrison, Marshall's Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Everything we do must begin with providing our student-athletes with a championship-level experience that supports their success in competition, in the classroom and in life. Their voices are an important part of shaping that experience, and I look forward to working closely with SAAC to listen, learn and continue building an environment where every student-athlete can thrive. Together, we will make Marshall Athletics stronger and move forward as One Herd."
The event theme was Rodeo/Country, which had Marshall's student-athletes trading in their spikes, sneakers and cleats for their best pair of boots.
"This year's student-athlete 'Welcome Back' event was very successful, and was a great way to kick off the school year!" said Ava Blake, Marshall softball outfielder and the 2026-27 President for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. "We are very grateful to the administration for taking the time to decorate and coordinate this event, so that we could have a relaxing and fun evening with our teammates."
Recently, Blake was among those named to the 2026-27 Marshall SAAC Executive Board.
2026-27 Marshall SAAC Executive Board
- President: Ava Blake, Softball
- Vice President: Kylan Overstreet, Men's Track & Field
- Secretary: Maddi Hudson, Women's Golf
- Student-Development Co-Chairs (2): Ramey George, Softball; Katie McCutcheon, Women's Soccer
- Community Engagement (2): Maya Hunt, Volleyball; A.J. Young, Men's Track & Field
- Social Media Chair: Emari Doby, Women's Basketball
- A.C.E. Chair: Makayla Bennett, Cheer
Blake and her fellow members of the board are the voice for Marshall student-athletes at a pivotal time within the college athletics landscape as several different legislative issues and governance issues within the NCAA impact all student-athletes.
The Moundsville, W.Va., native said her focus is on serving the student-athletes as a liaison within athletics while promoting all facets of the Herd Mentality.
"As SAAC President, I am looking forward to working closely with the rest of the student-athletic body and hearing out their needs and/or ideas on how to keep making this university event better than when we got here, then taking that information directly back to the administration," Blake said. "This year, we hope to find different ways to give back to the community that loves and supports us so much and taking more strides toward success in our post-graduate careers."
Some of those new NCAA initiatives and issues were incorporated into the "Welcome Back" event as the student-athletes broke into two groups for an orientation in which they heard from several groups that directly impact the student-athlete experience.
Those groups include, but are not limited to the following: Sports Medicine, Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition, HERD Cares, Academics, Student-Athlete Development, Compliance and Title IX.
Those orientation sessions were separated into men's and women's sports, and following their completion, all the athletes came back together for food, games and activities on the concourse and in the Big Green Room at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
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