Castro Named to All-ACC Academic Women's Tennis Team
6/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
PITTSBURGH – Recent graduate Katherine Castro of Pitt women’s tennis was named to the All-ACC Academic Team, as announced by league officials on Wednesday.
"I'm honored to have been chosen for this award," Castro said. "Pitt realizes the demands that come with the responsibility of being a student-athlete, so they really help make the balancing between academics and athletics managable. I am thankful for the constant support from Coach Santos, my professors and the entier athletic department for giving me the opportunity to grow on the court and in the classroom."
A rhetoric and communications major, Castro played first or second doubles for the Panthers and, along with partner Lolade Ogungbesan, defeated the No. 14 Notre Dame pairing during the season for her signature victory.
Castro was also recognized at the annual Pitt Senior Awards Banquet as one of the Pitt athletes between a 3.5-3.9 GPA. She finished her career with an overall GPA of 3.66 and is currently pursuing a nursing degree through UPMC.
One of three seniors on the team, Castro concluded her career with 18 singles wins and 20 doubles victories in her final two seasons of eligibility after transferring from the University of Miami (OH). Along with her nursing degree, Castro will spend next season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Panthers’ tennis program.
"I am very proud that Katherine got the recognitiion for her academic excellence," head coach Alex Santos said. "Katherine's intelligence, organizational skills and her dedication to academics are without question worth this honor. I feel very honored to have Katherine as a part of Pitt tennis and I feel that Katherine will be a great role model for the girls coming through the program."
To be eligible for consideration, student-athletes must earn a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and maintain a 3.0 cumulative average during the academic year.
Stephanie Wagner of Miami was named the 2015 Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in 2007 to be given annually to the top junior or senior athletes in their respective sports.
2015 ACC Women’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year:
Stephanie Wagner, Miami
2015 All-ACC Academic Women’s Tennis Team:
Romy Koelzer (2), Sr., Clemson, Communication Studies
Tristen Dewar, Jr., Clemson, Communication Studies
Beatrice Gumulya (2), Sr., Clemson, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Joana Eidukonyte, Jr., Clemson, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Sam Harris, Fr., Duke, Undeclared
Ester Goldfeld, Sr., Duke, Evolutionary Anthropology
Beatrice Capra, Jr., Duke, Cultural Anthropology
Daniela Schippers, So., Florida State, Hospitality
Mia Vriens, Sr., Florida State, Sport Management
Daneika Borthwick (3), Sr., Florida State, Sport Management
Alexis Prokopuik, Georgia Tech, Fr., Environmental Engineering
Natasha Prokhnevska, Georgia Tech, Jr., Biochemistry
Megan Kurey (3), Georgia Tech, Jr., Business Administration
Alexsandra Mally, Louisville, Fr., Exercise Science
Caroline Walter, Louisville, Fr., Undecided
Wendy Zhang, Miami, Fr., Undeclared
Lina Lileikite (4), Miami, Sr., Economics
Monique Albuquerque (2), Miami, Gr., International Business Studies
Stephanie Wagner (3), Miami, Jr., Economics
Hayley Carter (2), North Carolina, So., Undecided
Elisha Hande, NC State, Sr., Economics
Taylor Zaytoun, NC State, Jr., Fashion & Textile Management
Julie Vrabel, Notre Dame, Jr., Science Preprofessional
Katherine Castro, Pitt, Sr., Rhetoric and Communications
Amanda Rodgers, Syracuse, Sr., Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Komal Safdar (2), Syracuse, Sr., Biochemistry
Nicole Mitchell, Syracuse, Fr., Undeclared
Julia Elbaba, Virginia, Jr., Media Studies
Francesca Fusinato (2), Virginia Tech, So., University Studies
Luisa Fernandez, Wake Forest, So., Health & Exercise Science
Kimberly Guerin, Wake Forest, So., English
**Numbers in parentheses indicate times selected during career**