Wingate's Coyne Named South Atlantic Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Wingate's Mary Claire Coyne was voted the South Atlantic Conference Softball 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.

Coyne, a junior from Knoxville, Tenn., holds a perfect 4.00 GPA as an accounting major. She is a three-time Wingate President's List honoree, and has been on the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll twice and is a two-time National Fast pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athlete.

"I am so proud of Mary Claire for being named the SAC Scholar-Athlete," Wingate head coach Lani Shaffer Ries says. "She exemplifies the true meaning and dedication it takes on and off the field as a student-athlete."

The first team all-conference first baseman batted .393 with nine home runs, 14 doubles, and 42 RBIs in 2019. Coyne also scored 40 runs with a .693 slugging percentage and a .464 on-base percentage. She led the Bulldogs with 18 multi-hit and 13 multi-RBI games. She has helped guide Wingate to a No. 2 seed in the SAC tournament and was the Bulldogs were the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

An active member of the community, Coyne has assisted in the annual Unionville Barbeque fundraiser for three years, which raises money for Unionville Elementary School. She has been a part of the maintenance crew for Day of Caring, is a member of the National Society of Leadership, and has previously volunteered at a food pantry near her hometown.

SAC Softball Scholar-Athlete Finalists
Abby Fiessinger, Carson-Newman
Kasey Grant, Anderson
Talon LaClair, Lenoir-Rhyne
Paige Meyer, Newberry
Courtney Pearson, Queens
Justice Smith, Lincoln Memorial
Casey Stanek, Mars Hill 

- #MakeSACYours -