Sophia Zulich wants to make a difference.

It’s a big part of the reason why the now 21-year old University of Denver Pioneers senior would leave home very early into her high-school career, driven by a desire to pursue the dream of playing NCAA basketball.

Ultimately, her efforts would land her a commitment to the incredible setting that is Denver (Colorado), currently nearing the end of her fourth and final year of studies as a major in the Real Estate and the Built Environment program (though she is definitely looking at a masters).

Unfortunately, three separate injuries to her left knee have not allowed the 5’11” forward to rack up the points and rebounds and minutes that she anticipated a few years back, leaving Sudbury for the Mile High city.

Still very much focused on a return to play by March or so, Zulich recently attended the 2023 NCAA Convention in San Antonio (Texas), representing both her university and the entire Summit League as a member of the D1 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, whose meetings were a key part of the highly regarded event.

“Being injured was almost a catalyst for this experience that I have had in the sense that I am finding a leadership role, helping lead my university and conference through some tough and challenging issues,” said Zulich. “If I can’t contribute to my team from a competitive aspect, actually being in the game, this allowed me to throw myself in the deep end and helped enable me to go forward.”

For those who know the young lady well, this is hardly out of character. Highly articulate and blessed with a sincere interest towards countless social discussions, Zulich has now migrated her way to her true calling, so many hours from home.

“I’ve always been, or at least tried to be a leader in every situation,” she said. “I think that’s where I am most comfortable, being at the forefront, spearheading things. My parents have always been very supportive, encouraging me to speak my mind and be my own person and not be afraid to lead.”

By her sophomore year, Zulich had been tapped by the women’s basketball coaching staff to represent their team on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at the University of Denver. As a junior, she stepped into the role of vice-president of the group on campus, leading the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sub-committee.

“I was really involved, had a very active role,” she said. “When I started, I didn’t have any speaking points, per se, but I could speak on my team and could speak to the climate of my team – and maybe the men’s (basketball) team. I really didn’t have a great sense of the climate on campus, especially since we were just going through Covid.”

“We were undergoing a lot of changes.”

It didn’t take long for Zulich to realize that she could be part of a group that could be a catalyst for positive change, describing the inherent role of “SAAC” as “an organization which was founded to better the student-athlete experience.”

“My first year enabled me to see what we could do as student athletes and inspired my voice to come out in an area where I could impact change,” she stressed. “I was taking in information; it was all so new – but I was able to immerse myself with events that we were doing through SAAC, training, things on campus, and things off campus.”

Still, the notion of simply being one of the multiple university delegates sitting around the table when the group convenes at a conference level (Summit League), to then being selected as vice-president, leading to her role as a representative for ten full member schools and another six associate members is quite the evolution indeed.

“I think my passion was the biggest thing that they saw in me,” said Zulich. “To be honest, the Summit League was not a very active SAAC conference. We’re kind of in the middle ground.”

The arrival of new commissioner Josh Fenton in 2021 signalled another chapter for the grouping which covers NCAA institutions in Missouri, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and obviously Colorado.

“When he came into leadership, he brought in a whole new team of SAAC liaisons and administrators and everything,” said Zulich. “I just put myself out there; I was willing and able and more than excited to help.”

The net result was an unforgettable trip, one that included taking in sessions with the likes of Peyton Manning and Jim Nantz and Ann “Muffet” McGraw. “It was really eye-opening,” said Zulich. “What we say has magnitude; what we say matters. Being in a room with people that are so highly regarded and being able to hold my own was good.”

While Zulich is looking forward to attending an NCAA Leadership Conference in Baltimore (MD) in April, she is even more focused on getting back on the court. Her drive is not limited to off-court issues – not in the least.

“I sacrificed so much in high-school to try and get here,” she said. “Based on how relentless I am as a person, I think it would have been difficult for me to stop and look back and not have regrets, had I not seen this through.”

Truth be told, both the University of Denver and the Summit League would have been lesser, without the passionate voice of Sophia Zulich at the table.