Cade Garden of Wawasee High School was chosen as one of nine incoming high school juniors to serve on the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee for the 2022-23 school year. Photo by Mike Deak.

By Mike Deak
Staff Writer

Eighteen high school student athletes from across the Hoosier State will serve next year as members of the 2022-23 IHSAA Student Advisory Committee.

Among the selections will be incoming Wawasee High School junior Cade Garden, one of nine juniors chosen along with nine seniors from around the state. The group will receive hands-on leadership experience in various areas via several IHSAA-sponsored events and serve as a voice to the IHSAA staff.

Garden is wrapping up his sophomore year competing with the Wawasee Unified Track and Field team this spring. He was on the Warrior Unified Flag Football team in the fall and was a state competitor with the Wawasee swim team this past winter.

Each year, the IHSAA receives nominations from school principals on behalf of the student athletes from IHSAA member schools.

From that group of nominations, 20 are selected for interviews by members of the IHSAA executive committee and returning members of the SAC. From those interviews, nine incoming juniors are invited to join the group of nine returning seniors.

The SAC meets four times annually — twice each semester — and is responsible for hosting meetings with student peers at the Fall Area Principals Meetings; assisting with the awards ceremonies at the IHSAA state championship events throughout the school year; planning and administering the annual IHSAA Student Leadership Conference; and engaging in and supporting the activities of Special Olympics Indiana including Unified Track and Field and Unified Flag Football state tournaments.

Among the 18 joining Garden on the list are Will Favorite of South Bend Adams, Kaylie Hanyzewski of Penn and Ellie Jones of Plymouth.