Cate Evans

Cate is redefining what it means to be a student-athlete. A standout in both sled hockey and wheelchair tennis, she competes at the highest levels of adaptive sports while pursuing a dual degree in Finance and Supply Chain Management at the University of Michigan, where she holds an impressive 3.97 GPA.

Cate currently plays sled hockey for Belle Tire, representing Detroit on the M, AM, and women's teams. A highlight of her recent season was helping her AM team win the Midwest Sled Hockey League Championship-a particularly special accomplishment as she is the only woman on the team, and one of just three women competing in the entire league. Facing off alongside six Canadian Paralympians, Cate has proven herself as a fierce

competitor who thrives in high-stakes, high-speed environments. She is also an alternate for the

U.S. Women's National Sled Hockey Team, continuing to train and push for a spot on the world stage.

But her commitment to sport doesn't end on home ice. In a recent milestone for global inclusion, Cate traveled to Mexico City with a team of elite sled hockey players-including Paralympians Josh Pauls and Tyler McGregor-to introduce the sport in Mexico for the first time. There, she taught youth and adults how to play and served as a translator, using her fluency in Spanish to make the sport more accessible to a new generation of athletes.

Off the ice, Cate competes as a member of the University of Michigan's Wheelchair Tennis Team, where she's quickly made a name for herself. After only two years in the sport, she was named ITA Collegiate Wheelchair Tennis Rookie of the Year, and earned both ITA

Scholar-Athlete and All-Academic Team honors for her performance in the classroom and on the court.

Cate's athletic journey is matched by a deep commitment to service and accessibility. A disabled athlete herself, she volunteers with the university's Disability and Accessibility Support Services, and has spent over a decade helping others-from coordinating blood drives and participating in pediatric physical therapy labs, to supporting Spanish-speaking workers in employment programs. Her mission is clear: to create more inclusive and empowering spaces, whether in sport, school, or society.

With a summer internship at Bechtel's Manufacturing and Technology division and aspirations of continuing her education through graduate studies, Cate remains focused on growing as both an athlete and a changemaker. She's not just playing to win-she's playing to lead, inspire, and pave the way for the next generation of adaptive athletes.