Earlier this year, Cal State Bakersfield released an article called “CSUB Scholar-Athletes Notch 3.21 Fall GPA,” where they revealed that the women’s golf team topped all CSUB sports with a 3.74 GPA in the fall 2025 semester, leading above the Athletics Department’s 3.21 GPA score.
Ashlee Kresha, a member of the women’s golf team, was among 24 scholar athletes who achieved perfect 4.0 GPAs. I caught up with her and her two teammates, Fiona Clancy and Kate Montemayor, to understand their GPA success, study tips and gathered insight into what it is like managing sports and school.
During our conversation, they explained that communication skills, academic priorities and support from teammates and coaches helped their team earn this impressive achievement. Balancing a packed schedule of travel, workouts, classes, study sessions and life priorities is a semester-long challenge.
“Finding time has been tough because I’ve had gaps between practice, classes, and workouts, and sometimes I want to study in between, but it’s hard to find the right time to really focus,” said Montemayor.
While a perfect schedule might be unrealistic, it is doable to craft an optimal one. “We make our schedule work for us, making it easier and more comfortable,” said Clancy. For these athletes, they must build their schedules around training sessions to accommodate classes and other commitments.
School can be overwhelming, but golf provides a refreshing escape — a place to breathe and reset. “It’s therapeutic,” says Clancy, who notes that while constant tournament travel is stressful, the game is also where they find their focus and maintain composure under pressure.
“After we arrive back home, it’s hard to activate our energy for homework, so it can initiate stress and falling behind class courses,” said Montemayor. To avoid burnout, these athletes plan ahead, making adjustments to stay on top of their studies and maintain a solid work ethic.
When it comes to studying, the Kegley Center is the go-to spot for these golfers. Known to the team as the “Keg,” it is the perfect place for them to zero in or socialize with teammates and friends. Montemayor and Kresha shared they rely on their iPads for notetaking and reviewing PowerPoint lectures, while Clancy uses Microsoft word to create organized bulleted notes, ensuring they are effective and helpful.
After hearing these athletes’ perspectives, it is clear determination, consistency and a solid support system are the keys to success. Earning this recognition is a huge milestone for CSUB women’s golf, since it showcases their performance both on the course and in the classroom. The team’s close bond is everything. As they push each other to be their best, even when stress or tough times are upon them, they always care and look out for each other. Their coach, Katy Barrett Baxter, also encourages them to step back and recharge when necessary. With a GPA such as this, the question remains: Can they repeat?
