Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University sophomore Mateo de Castro Navarro is the 2026 South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winner for men's track and field, league officials announce from corporate headquarters. de Castro Navarro receives this distinction for the second consecutive season.
 
The SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented to one student-athlete from each of the conference's 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
Junior, Valladolid, Spain
 
- Mathematics major with a 3.961 cumulative GPA
- Won SAC Elite 23 Award for men's outdoor track and field in 2025
- SAC champion and first team All-SAC for outdoor shot put in 2026 (15.77 meters)
- First team All-SAC in indoor shot put in 2026 (15.88 meters)
- For his career, four All-SAC first team shot put honors (two indoor, two outdoor)
- WU has won three SAC indoor and three SAC outdoor titles during his career
- Season-best shot put marks: 15.88 meters (SAC indoors); 16.66 meters (HPU meet)
- 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
 
"It has truly been a privilege to work with Mateo de Castro Navarro. He has incredible talent and work ethic when it comes to throwing. Mateo pushes not only himself, but also his teammates, to be the best they can be. He goes above and beyond when training. Mateo is also a very diligent student managing his time well with class work and track and field meets. I look forward to what next season brings for him." 
 
Dr. Greg Bell, professor of mathematics, Wingate University
 
"Mateo de Castro Navarro is a fantastic student. I have taught him in three math classes thus far and he has made a high A in each of them. He works very hard in his classes and he is also very intelligent. Most students back away from the challenging material and Mateo just drives right in and does very well with this material. In our group work, he often takes a leadership position…he works very well with his peers. As a student-athlete, Mateo's time management skills are excellent. He is also very responsible and only misses class for athletic meets. Mateo is a pleasure to have as a student and I wish I had more like him."
 
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 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 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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