Faculty & Staff News
A perfect 2-0 start in Sunshine State Conference play has deservedly landed both Emma Heikkila and Paige Napolitano a pair of awards on Monday, as the two Nova Southeastern women’s soccer standouts were recognized as the SSC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. The honor marks the third of Heikkila’s career, while Napolitano brings home her first. FULL RELEASE
Nova Southeastern women’s tennis sophomore Natalie Espinal reached the final stage of competition at the ITA South Regional Championships, finishing as the runner-up among the best players in the NCAA Division II South Region. Her performance marks the second straight year with a Sharks player in the Final (following Ana Navas, 2018). FULL RELEASE
The debut episode of NSU Sharks’ J.A.W.S.S. (Just a Weekly Sports Show) with host Sarah Kelly, learning more about NSU Cross Country’s Michelle Bauer. FULL RELEASE
NSU’s baseball team is on the verge of opening up Fall Ball ahead of the 2020 baseball season. Under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Greg Brown, the Sharks welcome 16 newcomers to the program, including nine freshmen and seven transfers in addition to 23 Sharks returning to the roster.
Of the Sharks’ newcomers, 11 represent the Sunshine State, while NSU welcomes a pair from Canada, as well as one apiece from Arizona, Washington and New Jersey. The 2019 Fall roster wraps up individual workouts and kicks off team practices on Oct. 1.
Just ahead of its Sunshine State Conference opener on Wednesday, the Nova Southeastern men’s soccer team has seemingly caught the attention of United Soccer Coaches, as the Sharks are now receiving votes in the latest national poll. FULL RELEASE
NSU’s Athletics Department assisted the Jason Taylor Foundation in their 15th Annual “Cool Gear for the School Year” event on September 16. Sixty young students were given $300 to spend on back to school gear at Old Navy. For the sixth-straight year, NSU student-athletes were invited to serve as “celebrity shoppers.”
Each year, the Jason Taylor Foundation hosts 60 disadvantaged middle school-aged boys and girls from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties at Old Navy for a “back to school” shopping experience.
During the event each child was allotted $300 to spend on back to school gear. In addition to the monetary allowance, the children received assistance from Jason, along with current and former Miami Dolphins players, cheerleaders, and local celebrities. The purpose of the program is to help build self-esteem and eliminate unnecessary distractions to allow each child to focus on his or her studies, and not attire, during the school year.
For the sixth-straight year, NSU student-athletes were invited to serve as “celebrity shoppers”. Women’s basketball’s Maria Bardeeva and Makenna Drabick, softball’s Sydney Lageyre, Tia Williams and Sam Sisco, men’s soccer’s Nathanael “Squeaky” Washington, and baseball’s Lucas Reid represented the Sharks. Here is what a few of them had to say about their experience:
Maria Bardeeva, Women’s Basketball- “I absolutely loved this event. I attended it last year so I wanted to do it again this year. It’s a great opportunity to help the kids from Miami-Dade and Broward counties as well as get inspired by what Jason Taylor has been doing for the community. I loved the kids, the atmosphere, and met many “celebrities”.
Nova Southeastern rose to as high as No. 3 in the national polls a year ago, but Street and Smith’s has even greater expectations for the Sharks entering 2019-20. Following their recent run to the Elite Eight, and with a wealth of scoring still intact, the Sharks have been listed at No. 2 in the magazine’s Division II Preseason Top-10 rankings. FULL RELEASE
Entering his sixth-year as head coach, Devin Fay and the Nova Southeastern rowing team have released its three-event fall schedule, testing the Sharks in three Florida-based events. FULL RELEASE
Nova Southeastern Athletics would like to recognize former volleyball player Valentina Petrova as its September 2019 GEICO Alumni of the Month. FULL RELEASE
Following yet another successful year in the postseason, the Nova Southeastern swim teams are eager to kick off 2019-20, beginning on Sept. 27 at the NSU Aquatic Center. FULL RELEASE