SAINT LEO, Fla. – Thirteen student-athletes on the #1 Saint Leo University softball team were named Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) while collectively, the squad was honored by the organization as No. 6 on the NCAA Division II list of Easton Top 10 GPAs for collegiate teams.
 
Redshirt junior Grace Dunsworth, juniors Alexis Barber, Sydney Cline, Nia DeBenedittis, Adriana Przespolewski, and Alex Wright, redshirt sophomore Maddie Antioco, sophomores Cat Durden, Ayani Hernandez, and Marissa Martinez and freshmen Hannah Durante, Abigail Hynes, and Sommer Speers   were all recognized individually for their achievements off the field in the classroom. It is the third honor for Dunsworth, the second for Antioco, Cline, DeBenedittis, Durden, Hernandez, and Przespolewski, and first for Barber, Wright, Martinez, Durante, Hynes, and Speers.
 
Saint Leo was one of seven Sunshine State Conference programs honored with student-athletes on the All-America Scholar-Athlete list. The Lions were joined by Barry, Eckerd, Florida Southern, Nova Southeastern, Rollins and Tampa on the list.  
 
The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories. NCAA Division I led the way with 2,637 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2025-26. NCAA Division III followed with 2,491 and NCAA Division II with 1,869. Junior colleges and NAIA came in with 1,190 and 655 student-athletes respectively. Seven student-athletes from Bay Path University earned recognition in the Other Four-Year category.
 
The Lions led the conference in overall GPA while ranking sixth in the nation at 3.744. It marks the first time in program history the Lions have ranked inside the top-10 NCAA Division II programs in GPA. Lincoln Memorial led NCAA Division II with a mark of 3.853 followed by Missouri Southern (3.813) and Mansfield (3.79). The next highest SSC program was Barry (3.619) that ranked 44^th overall.  
 
SLUSB's All-Time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete Honorees:
2016: Brittany Creamer, Kendal LeFrancois, Sommer Pollard, Samantha Tyler, Ciara McCoy, Stephanie Adkins, Danielle Ferrara, Tiffany Thompson, Alana Tabel, Morgan Mobley, Bailey McKenna, Brooke Samios-Uy
2019: Sadi Avants, Rachel Bean, Bailey Burk, Shyanne DuBois, Deanna Falciglia, Maddy Lynn, Ciara McCoy, Alexis Miniet, Emily Pilon     
2021: Sadi Avants, Rachel Bean, Kayla Betts, Kendyl Crean, Deanna Falciglia, Alexandra Hare, Kayleice Hooks, Alli Jaquith, Kacie Kelly, Kylie Liotine, Maddy Lynn, Madeline Mott, Makensey Pankers, Emily Pilon, Brigette Soza, Shelby Westbrook, Bayley Williams
2023: Elizabeth Barwick, Kayla Betts, Kendyl Crean, Grace Dunsworth, Alexandra Hare, Tierney Hocquard, Nicole Magdziasz, Briana Neal, Ainsley Perdicaris, Amel Salman, Morgan Shannon, Kayla Swinson, Haleigh Thomas, Bayley Williams
2025: Maddie Antioco, Caroline Barwick, Sydney Cline, Lindsay Corazzini, Nia DeBenedittis, Grace Dunsworth, Cat Durden, Ayani Hernandez, Chloe Hocquard, Tierney Hocquard, Tegan Larrimore, Briana Neal, Gabi Olavarria, Adriana Przespolewski, Amel Salman, Juli Stachowicz, Haleigh Thomas
2026: Maddie Antioco, Alexis Barber, Sydney Cline, Nia DeBenedittis, Grace Dunsworth, Hannah Durante, Cat Durden, Ayani Hernandez, Abigail Hynes, Marissa Martinez, Adriana Przespolewski, Sommer Speers, Alex Wright