Marina Arrese Named to CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team

Published: Monday, August 9, 2021
Marina Arrese wins all-american second team
Arrese becomes the third Highlander student-athlete at the Division I level to receive Academic All-America laurels

NJIT junior women's fencer Marina Arrese has been named to the 2020-21 CoSIDA NCAA Division I Academic All-America Women's At Large second team the CoSIDA Academic All-America program announced on Friday. The honor recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. 

Arrese, from Madrid, Spain, was named to the Dean's List for six semesters and carried a 4.0 GPA, graduating in three years with a business degree. 

A recipient of the Elite 90 Award for the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Fencing Championship, Arrese earned the top academic achievement out of 144 participants competing at the NCAA Fencing Championships.

The 2021 NCAA All-American, placed ninth place with 13 victories out of 21 bouts for a .619 winning percentage at the NCAA Championships.

This season, Arrese combined for a 22-6 mark with a 79% win percentage in epee competition. 

At the Ohio State Invitational, Arrese recorded a 17-2 record with wins over Wright State, Air Force, Notre Dame, Duke, Denison and host Ohio State.

She served as co-president of the NJIT Investment Fund, working at the campus Financial Analysis Lab and serving on the Dean's Executive Student Leadership Council. 

Most recently, NJIT senior men's soccer standout Rene White earned CoSIDA Academic All-America first-team honors for the 2020-21 season, becoming the second Highlander student-athlete at the Division I level to receive CoSIDA All-America recognition since 2009. 

NJIT women's volleyball alumnae Sabrina Baby '09 became the first Highlander student-athlete in any sport at the Division I level selected to the CoSIDA All-District team in 2009 and went on to receive Academic All-America laurels.  

To qualify for the Academic All-America team, nominees must have completed their sophomore year – both academically AND athletically – during the 2020-21 academic year in order to be nominated. Nominees must hold at least a 3.40 cumulative grade point average or better throughout their career and have started more than 50 percent of all games during the season of nomination and be an elite player as supported by playing honors and/or contributions to their team. Academic All-America honorees must also have first been selected as First-team Academic All-District honorees.