Wingate's Gunfaus Named 2023 South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Wingate's Elena Gunfaus was named the 2023 South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced today. 

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service, and leadership.

Gunfaus, a senior from Terrassa, Spain, holds a 3.786 grade point average while studying finance. She was named to the Wingate University President's List for four semesters, Wingate University Dean's List for three, and is a three-time South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll member. As a junior, Gunfaus was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete and as a senior was invited to join Delta Mu Delta, the international business honor society. 

On the court, Gunfaus ended her senior year with an 8-5 singles record (5-2 SAC) and 10-3 doubles at number two singles and number two doubles. She was named First Team All-SAC Singles and was a member of the Bulldogs' winning team which brought home the SAC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA tournament. She was also named the SAC Varsity Gems Player of the Week on March 6. As a junior she was ranked No. 33 in ITA national singles rankings and No. 11 in ITA regional singles rankings. Gunfaus was named the 2021 SAC Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the First Team All-SAC Singles. Individually, Gunfaus advanced to the ITA regional semifinals in singles and was ranked No. 20 in the ITA national singles rankings. 

In addition to her success on the court and in the classroom, Gunfaus is also an active member of the Wingate community. She is a member of the Wingate Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Wingate Investment Club, and was named a Wingate Tennis team captain as a senior. Gunfaus is a yearly blood donor and volunteered for a program in her homeland of Spain dedicated to cardiovascular health (La Marato tv3). She participated in the United Way Day of Caring and the One Day, One Dog by cleaning and organizing at the Wingate Baptist Church. 

SAC Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete Finalists

Elena Gunfaus, Wingate

Evgeniya Pugina, Lenoir-Rhyne

Julia Speiser, Carson-Newman

Ines Rodriguez, Mars Hill

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