Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University sophomore Mateo de Castro Navarro is the 2025 South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winner for men's track and field, league officials announce this week. de Castro Navarro is honored for the first time in his young career.
 
The SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented to one student-athlete from each of the conference's 22 championship sports. The SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee votes on this honor. This prestigious award is given to the deserving recipient for their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
 
The Mateo de Castro Navarro file
Sophomore, Valladolid, Spain
 
- Mathematics major with a 3.950 cumulative GPA
- Won SAC Elite 23 Award for men's outdoor track and field in 2025
- First team All-SAC in indoor shot put in 2025 (16.07 meters)
- First team All-SAC in outdoor shot put in 2024 (15.35 meters)
- WU has won two SAC indoor and two SAC outdoor titles during his career
- Season-best shot put marks: 16.07 meters (SAC indoors); 15.78 meters (Duke Invite)
- First-place in regional and national shot put competitions in Spain (summer '24)
- Inclusive Sport volunteer in his home country of Spain (2013-present)
- Helps athletes with disabilities enjoy track and field competitions
- Hometown track club volunteer during the summer of 2024
- Helped organize track and field meets for children
- One Day, One Dog (ODOD) Day of Service in 2024 and 2025
- WUXCTF ran a field day for East Elementary School as part of ODOD
 
What They Are Saying
Danielle Crawford, throws coach, Wingate University
 
"Mateo de Castro Navarro is one of the most determined student-athletes I have ever met. He shows up every day ready to better himself and push his teammates to be the best they can be. Mateo showed up to Wingate ready to rewrite the history books…and he is well on his way to doing this. Even with putting in countless hours at the track or in the gym, Mateo still makes the time to make sure his academics are even greater than his athletics. He works hard…and it shows not only to his coaches and to his professors, but to those who are around him every day. I am so honored that I get to watch him grow in his time at Wingate. I can't wait to see what else he can accomplish."

Laora Brizendine, professor of mathematics, Wingate University
 
"Mateo de Castro Navarro is an excellent student. He maintains a 3.95 GPA and sets very high standards for himself. I have had the pleasure of teaching Mateo in two of his math courses and believe that he is one of the best students I have ever taught. He welcomes challenging content in his math courses and has asked to work independently to learn more advanced topics. He is mature and responsible as a student-athlete by always letting me know when he will miss class due to a track and field competition. It has been an immense honor teaching Mateo and watching him grow academically."
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 29 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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