Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University All-American defender Kathryn McCabe has earned the prestigious SAC Scholar-Athlete Award for women' lacrosse, league officials announced Wednesday afternoon. The SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to the top student-athlete in each sport, recognizing excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and service. McCabe's accomplishments exemplify the Conference's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes.

McCabe gives Wingate 120 SAC Scholar-Athletes all-time, the most in league history. She is the fourth player in WU women's lacrosse history to earn the honor, giving the Bulldogs three straight winners. Kaleigh Wilgeroth won the award last year, while Leah Knowles took home the hardware in 2024. Gillian McLean was the first Scholar-Athlete in program history in 2014.

McCabe had another huge season for the SAC regular season and tournament champion Bulldogs. In her second season at Wingate, McCabe was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. The back-to-back first team All-SAC defender also collected All-Region accolades from the IWLCA each of the last two years. This season, McCabe was named a USA Lacrosse second team All-American, adding third team accolades from the IWLCA. She is only the second player in WU history to be named to an All-American team back-to-back years.

McCabe piled up 49 caused turnovers on the year, adding 94 draw controls and 60 ground balls. She led the SAC in CTs, ranking third in draw controls and ground balls. McCabe ranked in the top 25 nationally in ground balls and caused turnovers. She was a huge factor in Wingate once again leading the nation in caused turnovers per game (16.00), while also playing a key role in the nation's top-ranked draw control percentage team (.706).

McCabe has gotten it done in the classroom, compiling a 4.0 GPA while majoring in Mathematics. A two-time selection to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, McCabe has earned a spot on the WU President's List every semester of her Bulldog career. She is a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society. McCabe earned the SAC Elite 23 Award this season.

McCabe has also pitched in around the community, serving as a Common Heart volunteer for two straight years, while also serving in the W'Infinity Math Club as a historian. She has worked with Project Focus, while also volunteering with Julia's Learning Community throughout her time at Wingate. McCabe has also worked with the Rocky River Nature Park project.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 9 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 30 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.

OneDog, #OneDog, One Day One Dog and Lab of Difference-Making are registered trademarks of Wingate University.