University of North Carolina Athletics
The women's tennis and men's fencing teams celebrated winning 2022-23 Carolina Academic Excellence Awards.
Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH
Carolina Academic Excellence Winners Celebrate Achievement
October 4, 2023 | Women's Tennis, Fencing, Academics
For the North Carolina women's tennis team, the 2022-23 academic year was worthy of celebration for many reasons. The Tar Heels claimed the program's first NCAA Championship and the seventh ITA Indoor Team Championship, won a program-record 35 matches, and saw two teams in Carolina blue face off for the NCAA doubles title.
Oh, and the squad also turned in the highest GPA among the 15 women's teams at UNC. It marked the second time the women's tennis team has won the Carolina Academic Excellence Award – given each year to the men's and women's varsity teams with the highest overall GPAs – and the first time ever that a team has won the award and an NCAA title in the same season.
On the men's side the honoree was the fencing team ... for the sixth time in the six-year history of the award, another outstanding achievement.
That excellence is worthy of celebration, which is just what the teams did on a recent evening at a dinner sponsored by benefactor Dan Rupp. Assistant Provost Michelle Brown, Director of the Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes, opened the program by explaining that Rupp specifically wanted the annual dinner to be at the Carolina Inn, a special place to celebrate, relax and enjoy the evening.
Kathy Zambrana, Assistant Director of the Academic Support Program, spoke to the group about the culture that ensures Tar Heels are achieving both athletically and academically. At each place setting was a goodie bag containing candy and a card with a quote attributed Michael Jordan. Zambrana read the Tar Heel great's quote to the crowd: Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.
"You have each made it happen," she said. "We are so proud of you. Keep making it happen."
Student-athletes from each squad then spoke on behalf of their teammates. For women's tennis it was current seniors Fiona Crawley and Sara McClure, who thanked their coaches for flexibility they provide when academic responsibilities conflict with practice and for the way they extend a learning environment to the court. Sure there are challenges, like searching for wifi while traveling in order complete homework assignments. But the environment of success begets more success, as evidenced by the team's 3.742 GPA in the spring semester while marching toward the NCAA title. "When you're surrounded by greatness it makes you want to be great," McClure said.
Senior Reza Merchant, representing men's fencing, also spoke of his coaches' flexibility when academic conflicts arise and the way the team supports each other academically as well as athletically. He then summed up the way surely everyone in the crowd was feeling: "I'm so excited we can all celebrate here together," Merchant said. "I'm just so happy to be a Tar Heel."
Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham wrapped up the evening and spoke of the large trophies that sit in the lobby of the Loudermilk Center for Excellence. One honors national champions, the other honors Carolina Academic Excellence Award winners. Having those side-by-side, Cunningham said, is a reminder of the importance of both achievements. The dinner provided a reminder of how special it is to celebrate them.
Oh, and the squad also turned in the highest GPA among the 15 women's teams at UNC. It marked the second time the women's tennis team has won the Carolina Academic Excellence Award – given each year to the men's and women's varsity teams with the highest overall GPAs – and the first time ever that a team has won the award and an NCAA title in the same season.
On the men's side the honoree was the fencing team ... for the sixth time in the six-year history of the award, another outstanding achievement.
That excellence is worthy of celebration, which is just what the teams did on a recent evening at a dinner sponsored by benefactor Dan Rupp. Assistant Provost Michelle Brown, Director of the Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes, opened the program by explaining that Rupp specifically wanted the annual dinner to be at the Carolina Inn, a special place to celebrate, relax and enjoy the evening.
Kathy Zambrana, Assistant Director of the Academic Support Program, spoke to the group about the culture that ensures Tar Heels are achieving both athletically and academically. At each place setting was a goodie bag containing candy and a card with a quote attributed Michael Jordan. Zambrana read the Tar Heel great's quote to the crowd: Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.
"You have each made it happen," she said. "We are so proud of you. Keep making it happen."
Student-athletes from each squad then spoke on behalf of their teammates. For women's tennis it was current seniors Fiona Crawley and Sara McClure, who thanked their coaches for flexibility they provide when academic responsibilities conflict with practice and for the way they extend a learning environment to the court. Sure there are challenges, like searching for wifi while traveling in order complete homework assignments. But the environment of success begets more success, as evidenced by the team's 3.742 GPA in the spring semester while marching toward the NCAA title. "When you're surrounded by greatness it makes you want to be great," McClure said.
Senior Reza Merchant, representing men's fencing, also spoke of his coaches' flexibility when academic conflicts arise and the way the team supports each other academically as well as athletically. He then summed up the way surely everyone in the crowd was feeling: "I'm so excited we can all celebrate here together," Merchant said. "I'm just so happy to be a Tar Heel."
Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham wrapped up the evening and spoke of the large trophies that sit in the lobby of the Loudermilk Center for Excellence. One honors national champions, the other honors Carolina Academic Excellence Award winners. Having those side-by-side, Cunningham said, is a reminder of the importance of both achievements. The dinner provided a reminder of how special it is to celebrate them.
Players Mentioned
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