Six UMBC Retrievers Earn CSCAA Scholar All-America Honors, Highlighting Excellence in the Classroom and the Pool

Academic success has become a defining characteristic of the UMBC swimming and diving program, and the Retrievers added another impressive accomplishment this week.

The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America named six UMBC student-athletes to its 2025-26 Individual Scholar All-America Team, recognizing their outstanding achievements in both academics and competition. All six earned Second Team Scholar All-America honors after maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA while also meeting the demanding NCAA or National Invitational Championship qualifying standards.

The six honorees are:

• Ashley Gutshall (Sprint Freestyle)
• Alice Marini (Individual Medley/Backstroke)
• Sean Neils (Freestyle/Breaststroke)
• Aidan O’Callaghan (Diving)
• Stefano Perez (Backstroke/Butterfly)
• Ember Stennett (Diving)

More Than Just Fast Swimmers

Anyone can put together a strong season in the pool. Doing so while balancing demanding college coursework is another challenge altogether.

The CSCAA Scholar All-America program recognizes student-athletes who excel in both areas. To qualify for Second Team honors, swimmers and divers must post at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA while achieving nationally recognized qualifying standards during the season. That combination makes the award one of the most respected academic honors in collegiate swimming and diving.

Ashley Gutshall Continues to Lead by Example

Junior sprinter Ashley Gutshall has developed into one of UMBC’s premier freestyle specialists.

Known for her speed in sprint freestyle events and relay contributions, Gutshall has consistently scored points for the Retrievers while establishing herself as one of the team’s top academic performers.

Her Scholar All-America recognition reflects the balance required to compete at a high Division I level while succeeding in the classroom.

Alice Marini Caps Outstanding Graduate Career

Graduate student Alice Marini has been a versatile weapon throughout her UMBC career.

Competing primarily in the individual medley and backstroke events, Marini has brought veteran leadership and consistency to the program. Earning CSCAA Scholar All-America honors provides another impressive achievement as she concludes her collegiate career.

Sean Neils Emerging as a Key Contributor

Sophomore Sean Neils has continued his development in the freestyle and breaststroke events.

The Scholar All-America award highlights not only his progress in the pool but also his commitment to academic excellence early in his collegiate career. As Neils gains more experience, he appears poised to become an even larger contributor for the Retrievers.

Freshman Aidan O’Callaghan Makes an Immediate Impact

Very few freshmen are recognized nationally for both academics and athletics.

Diver Aidan O’Callaghan accomplished exactly that during his first collegiate season.

Qualifying for Scholar All-America honors immediately demonstrates the strong foundation O’Callaghan has established, giving UMBC another promising young diver to build around in future seasons.

Stefano Perez Shows Bright Future

Freshman Stefano Perez earned national academic recognition while competing in the backstroke and butterfly events.

Perez quickly adjusted to Division I competition and combined strong performances in the pool with outstanding classroom success. His recognition suggests the Retrievers have another talented swimmer capable of becoming a major contributor over the next several seasons.

Ember Stennett Continues Outstanding Career

Junior diver Ember Stennett continues to collect honors for the Retrievers.

Already one of the leaders of UMBC’s diving program, Stennett has consistently performed well at major meets while maintaining elite academic standards.

Earlier this year, Stennett also competed at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships and was selected as one of the program’s team captains for the upcoming season, further demonstrating the respect earned from coaches and teammates alike.

UMBC’s Culture of Academic Excellence

These six individual awards come only one day after both the UMBC men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams earned CSCAA Spring 2026 Scholar All-America Team recognition.

The women’s program finished the spring semester with an outstanding 3.73 team GPA, while the men’s team posted a 3.46 GPA. Both easily exceeded the 3.00 GPA required for national team recognition.

That combination of team and individual awards illustrates a program that continues to emphasize success beyond competition.

MSB Take

Championship programs are measured by more than medals and records.

These six Scholar All-America selections show that UMBC continues producing student-athletes who thrive in every aspect of college life. The Retrievers have built a culture where academic achievement carries the same importance as athletic performance, and that standard continues paying dividends.

For a Maryland program that consistently competes in the America East Conference, national academic recognition is another reminder that UMBC remains one of the state’s premier examples of the true student-athlete experience.