AMHERST, MA. – Two members of the Amherst College women's swim and dive team were accorded College Sports Communicators (CSC) Third Team Academic All-America honors when they were announced this week: junior swimmer Maeve Kelley (Pittsburg, Pa.) and senior diver Donna Zhang (Winchester, Mass.).
 
Formerly known as the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA), the CSC divides the NCAA institutions into nine geographic districts, with Amherst being located in District 1. To earn Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must have been awarded academic All-District honors by competing in 75 percent of competitions, finish in the top eight at a conference meet, or participate in a national championship; they also must have been selected as a CSC All-America finalist in the first round of voting. 
 
Kelley earns her first CSC Academic All-America selection after a stellar third year in the Pioneer Valley.  An Economics major with a 3.86 GPA, Kelley swam her way to All-America honors in four events at NCAA Championships in March, earning a First Team selection in the 200 Fly after a school-record swim, and Second Team accolades in the 100 Fly and 400 and 800 Free Relays. 
 
When asked about Kelley, Head Coach Connor Beaulieu said, "[she] earns every accomplishment. She continues to rise to the moments in front of her-- big races, leading her teammates, and performing in the classroom. She holds herself to an incredibly high standard and her work ethic in and out of the pool backs that up each day. Each year, she adds more accolades to her resume, and it is a testament to her commitment to being a true student athlete that these accolades come both in and out of the pool."
 
Zhang, a Mathematics and Statistics major with a 3.88 GPA, also garnered her first Academic All-America selection with her best season of her career. Named the 2025-26 NESCAC Co-Diver of the Year, Zhang also earned a First Team All-America selection in 3-meter and a Second Team award in the 1-meter diving events at NCAA Championships last month.
 
 "Donna Zhang is capping an incredible career at Amherst with yet another recognition of her sincere work ethic." Beaulieu said. "Finishing Top 8 at NCAAs, leading our team as captain, being named Co-Diver of the year, and now this recognition of her academic successes only cement what has been a storied and epic finish to her career at Amherst. We couldn't be more proud or inspired by her work and leadership."

The Mammoths finished their season with a 4-3 record in dual meets this season, including a 3-1 home mark and a 2-2 finish against NESCAC teams. They finished fourth at NESCAC Championships and 14th at NCAA Championships.