TEMPE, Ariz. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association is excited to announce the 2025-26 ITA Student-Athlete Council, a committee of ten members who have been selected to represent more than 20,000 student-athletes competing in tennis at the collegiate level.
The student-athlete-led council, entering its third year of existence, is committed to providing insights regarding the sport with a special emphasis on the student-athlete experience. The goals of this committee are as follows: Present a student-athlete voice within the Intercollegiate Tennis Association "ITA" (1), Offer input regarding matters pertaining to the sport, particularly issues impacting the lives of student-athletes (2), Work to enhance the student-athlete experience specific to college tennis across all divisions (3), Invest in the leaders of tomorrow by creating leadership and professional development opportunities (4).
Rollins junior
Stella Fruijtier, a native of Switzerland, was awarded one of the ten spots after applying for the position over the summer.
"As a member of the ITA Student-Athlete Council, I am excited to strengthen the representation of international student-athletes and bring more recognition to the value and strength of Division II, III, NAIA, and JUCO tennis programs." said Fruijtier.
This year's Student-Athlete Council will build on the initiatives and progress made by the first two classes, which have seen advancements such as
monthly student-athlete spotlights aimed at highlighting diverse individuals within our sport, the development of the
ITA Student-Athlete Podcast, the relaunch of the ITA Community Service Challenge, and the launch of the
ITA Student-Athlete Mentorship Program.
"We're thrilled to announce the new class of ITA Student-Athlete Council members for the 2025-26 season," said Elicia Smith, the ITA's Community Manager and Digital Product Coordinator. "In just two years, the Council has become an invaluable part of the ITA, launching several transformative initiatives. We're excited to see this new group build on that success and find more ways to invest in and improve the student-athlete experience in college tennis."
Fruijtier has embraced multiple opportunities to represent the voice of student-athletes since arriving in Winter Park. In addition to her position with the ITA, she is also the President of the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) at Rollins for the 2025-26 school year, and is the female athlete representative for the Student Government Association.
