AUSTIN, Texas – Ithaca College senior diver Kailee Payne has been named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division III Academic All-America Team for women's swimming and diving as announced by the organization on Tuesday afternoon. Payne becomes the fifth in Ithaca College women's swimming and diving program history to earn Academic All-America honors, and the first since Abby Marraccino in 2022-23.
 
The CSC Academic All-American award is one of the most prestigious honors a student-athlete can receive as it factors in academic and athletic success. In order to be considered an Academic All-American, a student-athlete must obtain over a 3.5 cumulative GPA, be a sophomore or higher in academic standing, be named an Academic All-District honoree and excel in their respective sport.
 
An environmental science major with a 3.92 cumulative grade point average, Kailee Payne became the 44^th First Tram Academic All-American in Ithaca College history and the second within the women's swimming and diving program. Payne finished her career as a four-time National Champion, was named the Liberty League Diver of the Year as well as the CSCAA Diver of the Year for the second consecutive year.
 
The senior would win the 1-meter title with a finals score of 486.30, which edged out Abigal Willow from Case Western who totaled a 470.75. Payne would cap off her collegiate career putting together a sensational 11-dive preliminary round on the 3-meter boards that saw her break an NCAA record with her total of 530.95. She would continue her dominance during the finals session and secured her fourth-career national title with a finals score of 522.80, which topped Abigail Wilkov who scored 501.65.