The junior from Sugarland, Texas, is majoring in criminal justice and has a 3.888 GPA.  

Castagno broke the school record in the 35-pound weight throw at the Gene Anderson UNC Invitational on February 12. He placed second in the event with a personal-best toss of 53-2.75. His mark surpassed the previous school record of 52-2.0, which was set in 1981 by Stanley Victrum.

Other nominees included College of Charleston women's track & field athlete Mary Zolga, Davidson men's basketball player Bryant Barr, Elon softball player Erin O'Shea, Furman men's track & field athlete Lee Gilmer, UNC Greensboro men's track & field athlete Joey Thompson, Chattanooga softball player Brooke Loudermilk and Western Carolina women's basketball player Caitlin Hollifield.

Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week
Week 1: Katy Dodd, Women's Soccer, Appalachian State
Week 2: Dustin Taliaferro, Football, Samford
Week 3: Clint Irwin, Men's Soccer, Elon
Week 4: Caitlin Williams, Women's Soccer, Western Carolina
Week 5: Joey Thompson, Men's Cross Country, UNC Greensboro
Week 6: Tatum Jestila, Volleyball, The Citadel
Week 7: Sarah Schermerhorn, Volleyball, Elon
Week 8: Sarabeth Peele, Volleyball, Davidson
Week 9: Sean Dreybus, Men's Soccer, Appalachian State
Week 10: Amanda Flink, Women's Soccer, Davidson
Week 11: Wilson Hood, Men's Soccer, Wofford
Week 12: Jake Robinson, Men's Basketball, Western Carolina
Week 13: Lee Stephens, Women's Basketball, Furman
Week 14: Kori Penland, Women's Basketball, Chattanooga
Week 15: Amy Clapper, Women's Basketball, UNC Greensboro
Week 16: Jake Robinson, Men's Basketball, Western Carolina
Week 17: Ben Altman, Wrestling, Davidson
Week 18: Monique Floyd, Women's Soccer, UNC Greensboro
Week 19: Sarah Strickland, Women's Track & Field, The Citadel
Week 20: Matt Evans, Men's Track & Field, Western Carolina
Week 21: Demetrius Johnson, Wrestling, Chattanooga
Week 22: Christopher Castagno, Men's Track & Field, The Citadel