Two-time U.S. Paralympic medalist Steve Serio of Westbury, New York, has been voted in by his peers to represent the National Wheelchair Basketball Association on the USOC Athletes’ Advisory Council. The NWBA conducted its election process following the approval of the new NWBA Bylaws.

Serio, 29 years old, will attend his first meeting the weekend of May 19. He came onto the international wheelchair basketball scene at 2006 World Championships where team USA won a silver medal. His resume at IWBF events is impressive winning nine medals at senior caliber events (Paralympics; World Championships and Para Pan Am Games). In total, Serio has represented the United States at all major competitions, including three Paralympic Games, four Para Pan Am Games, three World Championships and two U23 World Championships.

The USOC Athletes’ Advisory Council is responsible for broadening communication between the United States Olympic Committee and active athletes, and serves as a source of input and advice to the USOC board of directors. The AAC consists of at least one athlete from each National Governing Body (NGB) which the United States is represented at the Olympic and Pan American Games, eight athletes representing the Paralympic Sport Organizations or NGBs designated to govern a Paralympic sport, and six athletes elected by the AAC to serve at-large, including a chair and two vice chairs.

Ryan Neiswender of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, will serve at the alternate. Neiswender was a member of the 2013 America’s Zonal Qualifier team that won gold. He also was a player on the men’s wheelchair basketball team at the University of Illinois.