Austin, Texas - The 2025 Academic All-America NAIA Softball team, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), has been announced.
Central boasts two selections, as junior first baseman Elizabeth Palumbo was named to the First Team, while junior shortstop Madison Roberts landed on the Second Team.
The duo are both first-time Academic All-America selections.
Palumbo is an exercise science major from Sterling, Illinois, and boasts a 3.82 GPA. She finished her junior year with a multitude of honors, including All-Region Second Team honors from the NFCA, Heart First Team All-Conference recognition, and, for the second straight year, was named the Heart Player of the Year. Palumbo led the team in slugging percentage (.699), doubles (19), RBI (48), home runs (11), batting average (.399), and hits (69). She was also named an NAIA Second Team All-American.
Roberts boasts a 3.85 GPA while pursuing a degree in Nursing. The native of Elkhart, Illinois, was Central's primary shortstop in 2025, appearing in 51 games. Roberts recorded a .422 batting average with 11 doubles, three triples, and five home runs. She totaled 98 bases and scored 33 runs. Roberts was named to the Heart All-Conference First Team and was an NFCA Region V First Team selection.
The Academic All-America program celebrates college student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their chosen sport and in the classroom. The all-time list of 42,000+ Academic All-Americans includes major sports stars and some of the world's most accomplished individuals in medicine, business, science, and the arts.
Established in 1952 and selected by College Sports Communicators, Academic All-America is the longest-running and premier award for athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges, and Canadian institutions. Teams are announced year-round and amplified by CSC member colleges, universities, and conferences on a wide local, regional, national, and even international scope.
To view additional information about the Academic All-America program, please see below.
- Outstanding student-athletes are nominated for Academic All-District® recognition by communications directors and must have a minimum 3.50 GPA and meet high athletic standards. (approximately 30,000 nominations annually)
- A select group of student-athletes advances to the national ballot, where CSC members vote on Academic All-America teams. (approximately 2,000 selections annually)
- An Academic All-American of the Year is selected in each sport and division. (66 recipients)
- An Overall Academic All-America Team Member of the Year is selected as the top student-athlete across all sports in each NCAA and NAIA division. (4 recipients)
To view the CSC release on the 2024-25 Softball Academic All-America teams, please click here.
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