Wingate's Stepanov Named 2021 SAC Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Wingate's Roy Stepanov was voted the 2021 South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year. This will be the first time Stepanov will have received this honor.

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.

Stepanov, a senior from Ontario, Canada, has earned a 4.000 GPA in Finance and has been named to the Wingate President's List his sophomore, junior and senior year and the South Atlantic Commissioners Honor roll for two of his years in the league. Stepavov is an ITA Scholar-Athlete and ITA All-Academic Team honoree and was named the 2021 SAC Men's Tennis Elite 20 Award Winner. 

"Roy has been such an important member of this program over his time at Wingate. He has grown and matured on and off the court. Roy approaches his academics with the same tenacity he approaches his training and match play.  He is so dedicated to his academic success and he wants to do the best he can in every class he takes. I am so proud of Roy being honored with the Scholar Athlete Award. He is such a deserving individual and has represented Wingate and this tennis program with professionalism and class," said Head Coach Michael Cabana.

The Ontario, Canada, native was named to the All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team Singles for the 2021 season, while also being named to the All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team Doubles his sophomore season. Stepanov helped lead his team to South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship Titles in 2019 and 2021.

Stepanov served on the Wingate Student Athlete Committee for one year, while also volunteering as an N.C. Special Olympics tennis referee, a Monroe Highschool tennis clinic referee and a United Way Day of Caring organizer and volunteer. 

SAC Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete Finalists

Faris Hadzisadikovic (MHU)

Jake Tuchmann (LMU)

Justus Lehmann (Coker)

Leon Huck (Tusculum)

Rhodri Atkinson (LRU)

Roy Stepanov (Wingate)

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