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Heather Coppola named Inaugural NSU Women’s Lacrosse Coach

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A dominant presence in NCAA Division II lacrosse, with experience building programs and a championship pedigree, Heather Coppola has been named the inaugural Head Coach of the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Women’s Lacrosse team, announces Interim Director of Athletics Ryan Romero. Coppola joins NSU after a five-year tenure as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at the University of Mount Olive (NC).

Coppola will lead the NSU Women’s Lacrosse program into its inaugural season in the spring of 2027.

“We are thrilled to welcome Heather Coppola to our athletics family. Heather is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in collegiate women’s lacrosse, with a proven record of competitive success, program building, and student-athlete development,” stated Romero. “Her ability to elevate every program she’s led — both on the field and in the classroom — is a testament to her leadership, vision, and relentless commitment to excellence. We are excited for the future of our program under her direction.”

During her tenure as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Mount Olive, Coppola accumulated a record of 68-23, which included a 42-1 record in Conference Carolinas (CC) contests, while winning five Conference Carolinas regular season titles and five consecutive CC tournament championships. Coppola was recognized three times as the Conference Coach of the Year (2021, 2022, 2024). Coppola coached a total of 47 student-athletes to all-league recognition, in addition to five defensive players of the year, two offensive players of the year, two scholar-athletes of the year and one freshman of the year. Under Coppola’s guidance, the Trojans also succeeded in the classroom, improving their grade-point averages from 2.9 to 3.59. Additionally, Coppola rebuilt the UMO roster, expanding the team from 15 to 42 student-athletes.

“I am honored to be named the inaugural head women’s lacrosse coach at Nova Southeastern University,” said Coppola. “I would like to thank (Interim Director of Athletics) Ryan Romero and the hiring committee for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. From the moment I visited campus and engaged with the people here, it was clear that NSU is the ideal place to establish a premier lacrosse program. The university’s commitment to excellence, both academically and athletically, along with its world-class facilities, provides a strong foundation for success.”

Coppola began her tenure at Mount Olive in June 2020, becoming the second head coach in program history for the Trojans. In her first season, Coppola guided Mount Olive to a 13-2 record, finishing 8-0 in Conference Carolinas (CC) play. The Trojans won the program’s second Conference Carolinas tournament champion – first since 2015 – and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Coppola was recognized as the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year and coached 10 Trojans to all-conference honors, including Ciara Moorman (Defensive Player of the Year) and Shaelyn Yermal (Freshman of the Year).

Coppola followed the success of her first season with a second consecutive Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament championship, ending the year with a 14-5 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in league play. Coppola was recognized as the league’s coach of the year for the second time in her tenure, while Chaija Olsson earned defensive player of the year recognition.

In 2023, Mount Olive won the regular season and conference tournament championships for the third straight season, as Coppola guided the Trojans to a 14-5 record, while going undefeated in league play for the third consecutive season. Alexis Stanley was he third straight Mount Olive student-athlete, under Coppola’s tutelage, to garner Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Ali Davis was honored as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Coppola and the Trojans continued their dynastic run during the 2024 season, once again winning the Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament titles. Coppola was honored as the Coach of the Year for the third time in her career, guiding UMO to a 16-3 record and unbeaten in league play for the fourth consecutive season. Logan Hibbard earned offensive player of the year recognition, in addition to Madison Dow being honored as the fourth consecutive defensive player of the year.

During the 2025 season, Coppola guided the Trojans back to the NCAA tournament, while sharing the CC regular season title and winning the tournament championship for the fifth straight season. UMO finished the year 11-8, going 7-1 in conference play, while Simone McCraw earned defensive player of the year recognition.

Prior to leading the Mount Olive program, Coppola began her head coaching career as the second head coach of the women’s lacrosse program at Concordia University – Saint Paul (MN). Coppola joined Mo Gaitan’s staff in 2018 as a graduate assistant coach and took over the program prior to the 2019 season. In her first season, Coppola led the Golden Bears to a program record 11 wins and the team’s first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) tournament victory.

Coppola began her coaching career at Allegheny College (PA), where she worked as the Assistant Lacrosse Coach from 2013 through 2015. Following her time at Allegheny, Coppola served as the Assistant Lacrosse Coach and Field Hockey Recruiting Coordinator at SUNY Oswego from 2015 until 2016. Coppola then joined the coaching staff at Robert Morris University (PA) from 2016 through 2017, as the Assistant Lacrosse Coach & Operations Manager.

Coppola’s first season leading the Nova Southeastern Women’s Lacrosse program beginning in the spring of 2027.

Coppola added, “My vision is to build a nationally competitive team that upholds the high standards of the university both academically and athletically. I am eager to begin recruiting student-athletes from across the country who are not only talented but also passionate about laying the groundwork for a program that will thrive for years to come.”

To stay up-to-date on Nova Southeastern University Women’s Lacrosse, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_WLacrosse.

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NSU Swimming Honored as CSCAA Scholar All-America Teams

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) announced the 2025 Spring Scholar All-American teams and student-athletes on Thursday afternoon. Nova Southeastern men’s and women’s swimming teams were among the honorees, while 22 student-athletes (seven from the men’s program and 15 from the women’s) were named as Scholar All-Americans. To earn this prestigious honor, teams were required to achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher during the Spring 2025 semester. The Nova Southeastern University women’s swim team achieved a grade-point average of 3.59, while the NSU men’s program finished the spring semester with a 3.36 GPA.

To qualify for First-Team Scholar All-America, student-athletes must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher and participated in their national championship. Second-Team selections, must have also earned a 3.5 GPA or higher and met a “B” time standard for the national championship or qualified for a diving zone qualification meet.

“I’m humbled by the team’s continued academic success and so proud of the standard they’ve set both in the classroom and in the pool. Their diligence, time management, and work ethic are truly commendable,” said Head Coach Ben Hewitt. “I’m especially thankful for the support of our academic services staff, including Deanna Rivero, who play such an important role in their success.”

The women’s swimming CSCAA Scholar All-Americans all represented Nova Southeastern during the NCAA Division II National Championships, where NSU claimed its third consecutive national championship. Maya Esparza, Grace Gardner, Claire Gass, Maria Goncalves, Zsofia Kurdi, May Lowy, Hannah Montgomery, Ilaria Murzilli, Kristina Orban, Emilia Ronningdal, and Hailey Williams earned first-team honors, while Danielle Grande, Mollie Morfelt, Carin Sanchez and Bethany Weber were named to the second-team.

On the men’s side, Luca Alessandrini, Gustav Henriksen, Gavin Lindley, Inigo Marina, and Rhett Moore, were named to the first-team, in addition to Michael Kent and Nickolas Peristeridis were named to the second-team.

Overall, 763 teams representing 432 institutions earned Scholar All-American recognition with a total of 18,459 earned individual scholar all-american honors. The full CSCAA release can be found here. NSU Swimming, under the direction of Head Coach Ben Hewitt will return to the pool in the fall of 2025. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Swimming, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_Swim.

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Former Sharks set to compete in TBT Tournament

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Five former Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball student-athletes will be competing in The Basketball Tournament/TBT, beginning on July 18th, at the Charleson Civic Center in West Virgina. Two members of the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championship team – Ryker Cisarik and Tyler Eberhart – will be competing alongside Shane Hunter, a member of the 2023 national championship team and joined by Isaiah Fuller as members of the Dubois Dream. Sekou Sylla, the 2022 D2 CCA National Player of the Year, will also be competing in the TBT with the LA Ignite.

The Basketball Tournament “TBT” is a 64-team open tournament, set in eight regions, across seven states, with the winning team earning a one-million-dollar prize.

The Dubois Dream will be coached by Michael Lamberti, the current head coach of the West Liberty Hilltoppers, played under NSU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jim Crutchfield from 2012-2016.

During his time as a Shark, Cisarik appeared in 63 games, starting 55, helping lead NSU to back-to-back NCAA National Championship games and culminated his career with winning the 2025 national title. Cisarik accumulated 924 points, 408 rebounds, and 83 blocks, while shooting 56% from the field across two seasons. Cisarik enjoyed a breakout campaign during the 2024-25 season, averaging 18.8 points, finishing third in the Sunshine State Conference in scoring (676), while leading NSU in rebounds (26), and blocks (53). Cisarik was a finalist for the Trevor Hudgins Award, presented by Small College Basketball, and was recognized to the Sunshine State Conference second-team and all-defensive team. Cisarik was also recognized as a CSC Academic All-American.

Eberhart helped the Sharks win the program’s second national title in the last two seasons in his lone year with the program. Eberhart started all 37 games, averaging 12.2 points per game, while finishing second on the team in blocks (18) and third in rebounds (207).

Hunter, a member of the 2023 national title team, led NSU to a national finalist finish during the 2023-24 season. During his collegiate career, Hunter appeared in 125 games, accumulating 1,045 points, 473 rebounds, 121 blocks, while shooting 54% from the field. In the 2023-24 season, Hunter earned D2 CCA All-America third-team honors, leading NSU to a third consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament championship and a third straight NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance. Hunter had career-bests across the board during the campaign, scoring 570 points, averaging 15.8 points per game, leading NSU in rebounds (243), and blocks (71). In his first professional season, Hunter guided the Norrkoping Dolphins to the Basketligan – the highest league in Sweden – to the club’s seventh championship and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player.

Fuller, a member of the 2024 NCAA Division II national finalists, led NSU in minutes (900) during his only season with the program. Fuller maintained a 45/31/85% shooting line, leading NSU to the program’s third consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament title, as well as the third straight appearance at the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Fuller was recognized with All-Sunshine State Conference second-team and all-defensive honors. Fuller, currently playing overseas for BC Rivine in Ukraine, averaged 9.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals during his rookie season.

Sylla, the 2022 D2 CCA National and Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, last played for the NSU Men’s Basketball program during the 2021-22 season, leading the Sharks to the first undefeated SSC regular season in league history. Sylla guided NSU to program’s second NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament with a record of 31-0. Sylla totaled 718 points and 332 rebounds, while recording 22 double-doubles during campaign. Following the season, Sekou transferred to Towson (D1) and currently plays for Shkupi (North Macedonia).

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) begins on July 18th and is available on Fox Sports. Cisarik, Eberhart, Hunter and Fuller will lead the Dubois Dream against Best Virginia – alumni of West Virginia University – in the first round. Sylla and the Ignite open the tournament against Team Diesel on July 19th. For more information on The Basketball Tournament, click here. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball.

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Five Sharks named as CRCA Scholar Athletes

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) has released its 2025 Scholar-Athletes. The CRCA Scholar-Athlete Awards honor outstanding collegiate rowers, who exemplify excellence both in the classroom and on the water. These awards celebrate commitment, discipline, and academic achievement of student-athletes who rise to the challenge of excelling in a demanding sport, while maintaining exceptional academic performance.

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Women’s Rowing had five honorees, as Emma Hickey, Mollie Ireland, Jordan Maruskin, Anaiya Person, and V Robinson were recognized for their achievement in the classroom.

To be recognized as a CRCA Scholar-Athlete, nominees must meet the following standards: meet all institutional and conference eligibility rules; must be in their second, third, fourth of fifth year of eligibility; must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher throughout the end of the fall and winter semesters of the current academic year. Additionally, the student-athletes must have either raced in 75% of spring racies in an NCAA or IRA (lightweight) eligible boat OR must have raced in an NCAA boat at the conference championship meet.

NSU Rowing will be back on the water in the Fall of 2025. To stay up-to-date on the Sharks, be sure to follow on Instagram at NSU_Rowing and on X at NSU_WRowing.

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Sharks reload roster following NCAA Championship run

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After winning the program’s second NCAA Division II national championship in the last three seasons, the Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team – under the direction of Head Coach Jim Crutchfield – has reloaded and welcomed seven new student-athletes into the program for the 2025-26 season. The Sharks signing class features three transfers – Jaxon Nap, Bobby Rosenberger III, and Blaise Vespe – as well as four freshmen signees – Mikey Santicola, Trevor Rehm, Bennet Kayser and Patrick Rowe.

Jaxon Nap | Senior | Guard/Forward | Newcastle, WA. | Seattle Pacific University
During the 2024-25 season, Nap started 33 games, averaging a double-double, for the Seattle Pacific Falcons. He finished the season leading the team in minutes played (1,075), minutes-per-game (32.6), rebounds (330), and rebounds-per-game (10.0). Nap also was top five on the team in field goals (146), shooting percentage (0.533), free throws (80), points (384), points (384), points-per-game (11.6), assists (90) and steals (19).

Nap recorded eight double-doubles during the 2024-25 campaign for SPU, including scoring a season-high 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds on December 21st against Douglas College.

Prior to Seattle Pacific, Nap played two seasons at the University of Montana, where he appeared in 62 games, totaling 125 points and 71 rebounds.

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield on Jaxon
“Jaxon is a versatile big man that brings a lot of experience. He had two solid years at Montana and a very successful season at Seattle Pacific. He fits our system well.”

Bobby Rosenberger III | Junior | Guard | Quakertown, PA. | Saint Francis University (PA.)
Rosenberger helped lead the Red Flash to the program’s first Northeast Conference Championship since 1991 and clinched a spot in the “First Four” of the NCAA Tournament during the 2024-25 season.

During the 2024-25 season, Rosenberger appeared in 34 games, starting 23, while finishing fourth on the team in points (280) and points-per-game (8.2). Additionally, Rosenberger finished third on the Red Flash in rebounds (124) and rebounds-per-game (3.6). Rosenberger recorded a season-high 21 points against Lehigh on November 26.

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield on Bobby

“Bobby has had two solid years at D1 St. Franics PA. He has proven to be effective both inside and outside as well as being strong on the boards.”

Blaise Vespe | Junior | Forward | Cherry Hill, NJ | Florida Gulf Coast University
Despite not appearing in a game during the 2024-25 season, Vespe brings two seasons of collegiate experience to the Sharks’ roster.

Vespe appeared in 32 games during his time with FGCU, shooting 43% from the field in his career.

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield on Blaise
Blaise Vespe: “Blaise is a highly skilled big man that is coming off a tough injury at Florida Gulf Coast last year. He is a capable perimeter shooter and an outstanding rebounder.”

Michael Santicola | Freshman | Forward | Moon Township, PA. | Moon HS
Santicola joins the Sharks following a successful prep career at Moon High School. During his senior season, Santicola averaged 17.2 points, 5.4 assists, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.9 steals. For his career, Santicola accumulated 1,043 points.

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield on Michael
“Mikey was an outstanding basketball player at a solid high school program at Moon Township. He has good size, good quickness, and it is easy to see how he is getting better every year.”

Bennett Kayser | Freshman | Forward | Minford, Ohio | Minford HS
Kayser joins the NSU Men’s Basketball program after four years at Minford High School, where he finished his career in third place all-time in points scored (1,455). Kayser averaged 25.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists during his senior campaign.

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield on Bennett
“Along with being a highly skilled player with size, Bennett brings a great level of intensity to the court.”

Trevor Rehm | Freshman | Guard | Altoona, PA. | Bishop Guilfoyle HS
Despite missing his senior year, Rehm averaged 13.5 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists during his junior season at Bishop Guilfoyle HS.

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield on Trevor
“Trevor adds great size and length to the program. He suffered a knee injury and missed his senior season. We are hoping to get him back to full strength by the start of the regular season.”

Patrick Rowe | Freshman | Guard/Forward | Lindstrom, MN. | IMG Academy
Rowe, the all-time leading scorer at IMG Academy (1,981), averaged 31 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists during his senior season.

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield on Patrick
“Patrick has good size and quickness for a guard and has been a proven capable scorer from all three levels.”

NSU Men’s Basketball is the reigning NCAA Division II National Champions and will return to the court in November 2025. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball.

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170 NSU Student-Athletes Recognized on SSC Spring Commissioner’s Honor Roll

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference (SSC) announced its 2025 Spring Commissioner’s Honor Roll, presented by Barnes & Noble, on Tuesday morning. 170 Nova Southeastern University (NSU) student-athletes were recognized to the honor roll, setting a departmental record. Overall, for the Sunshine State Conference 2,254 student-athletes were recognized, including 521 who achieved a perfect 4.00 grade-point average.

In order to be recognized on the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, student-athletes must post a minimum GPA of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Participants in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming, women’s beach volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s outdoor track, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, baseball, and softball were eligible for the spring honor roll.

Nova Southeastern Athletics also set departmental records during the winter semester. As a department, NSU Athletics recorded a 3.49 GPA – the highest on record – while reaching 30 consecutive semesters with a departmental GPA above 3.00 and the 12th consecutive semester above 3.25. The men’s and women’s basketball, women’s tennis, and men’s track programs also achieved their highest winter semester GPA in program history.

Men’s Basketball

Eli Allen – Management
Ryker Cisarik – Sport and Recreation Management
Ryan Davis – Communications
Tyler Eberhart – Management (Master’s)
Dallas Graziani – Sport and Recreation Management
Alex Mangold – Business (Master’s)
Jamie Qualley – Marketing
Tommy Sala – Business (Master’s)
Ryan Walsh – Finance

Women’s Basketball

Madison Cloonan – Business (Master’s)
Michaela Cloonan – Business (Master’s)
Corina Conley* – Leadership (Master’s)
Alana Ellis – Communications
Payton Graber – Marketing
Suzan Kinran* – Communications
Jess Moors – Psychcology
Zeyno Seren – Finance
Dash Shaw – Criminal Justice (Master’s)
Mercedes Simmons – General Psychology (Mster’s)
Aubrey Stupp* – Developmental Disabilities (Master’s)
Kailyn Terrell – Marketing
Delaney Wolfe* – Human Nutrition

Men’s Swimming

Luca Alessandrini* – Sport & Recreation Management
Matthew Gush – Business (Master’s)
Gustav Henriksen – Management
Victor Izquierdo – Marketing
Michael Kent* – Biology
Gavin Lindley – Entrepreneurship
Inigo Marina – Computer Science
Rhett Moore – Interdisciplinary Studies
Nickolas Peristeridis* – Finance
Philip Peristeridis – Public Health
Aidan Pflieger – Marine Biology
Mateus Ribeiro – Human Nutrition

Women’s Swimming

Estelle Bauer* – Psychology
Sara Dowden – Exercise and Sport Science
Maya Esparza – Sport and Recreation Management
Elena Fonseca – Interdisciplinary Studies
Grace Gardner* – Marketing
Claire Gass – Psychology & Neuroscience
Maria Goncalves – Applied Professional Studies
Danielle Grande – Biology
Isabella Hernandez – Exercise and Sport Science
Zsofia Kurdi – Sport Revenue Generation (Master’s)
May Lowy – Management
Michelle Marinheiro* – Law
Hannah Montgomery – Marketing
Mollie Morfelt* – Management
Ilaria Murzilli – Finance
Lauren O’Brien – Reading (Master’s)
Kristina Orban – Management
Callie Ott* – Exercise and Sport Science
Isabella Pozos – Management
Emilia Ronningdal – Applied Professional Studies
Carin Sanchez* – Psychology
Bethany Weber – Sports Science (Master’s)
Hailey Williams – Psychology

Baseball

Edwin Alicea – Entrepreneurship
Michael Arnold – Sport and Recreation Management
Chase Campbell – Finance
Trevor Corlew – Sports Science (Master’s)
Jorge De Goti – Applied Professional Studies
Gabriel Esquivel – Leadership (Master’s)
Keyler Gonzalez – Biology
Kyler Heyne – Sports Science (Master’s)
Alexander Llinas – Exercise and Sport Science
Yhirian Marrero – Management
Ronny Medina* – Leadership (Master’s)
Xavier Moronta – Public Health (Master’s)
Ty Torti – Applied Professional Studies
Tyler Venegas – Marketing
Fernando Vila – Applied Professional Studies
Justin Wachs – Exercise and Sport Science
Federico Zapata – Sport and Recreation Management

Softball

Tori Copeland* – Psychology
Samantha Dixon – Biology
Lydia Drake – Criminal Justice
Cassidy Duskin – Applied Professional Studies
Aubrey Hutzler* – Health Informatics
Alisha Lanyon – Marketing
Maliyah Lawson – Psychology
Brenna Lokeinsky* – Business Intelligence Analytics (Master’s)
Brooke Mahaney – Sport and Recreation Management
Lauren Margolis – Couple and Family Therapy (Master’s)
Brianna Matthews – Law
Erin McGlothlin – Applied Professional Studies
Abbey Moore – Exercise and Sport Science
Gianna Russo – Management
Tierani Teslow – Entrepreneurship
Avery Toth – Exercise and Sport Science
Gracelyn Wallace – Management

Men’s Golf

Jorge Berea – Finance
James Humphries – Management
Aidan Millham – Management
Christian Munoz* – Finance & Accounting
Erik Plenge – Finance
Ivan Ponsdomenech – Finance

Women’s Golf

Ariana Carvalho – Finance
Mei Chan – Sport and Recreation Management
Yariliz Delgado – Management
Rosanna Halls – Applied Professional Studies
Ida Lundh* – Marketing
Haruka Muta – Management
Lua Pousa Dacasa – Management
Tanvi Samayam – Neuroscience

Men’s Track

Andres Agudelo – Management
Keel Brossard* – Finance
Evan Crisp – Secondary Social Studies Education
Jonathan Duarte Urbina – Finance
Marc Gonzalez – Nursing Pathway
Julian Granville – Property Management and Real Estate
Cadan Hinds – Art and Design
Michael Magnoli – Finance
Marcus Marek Tortorella* – Engineering
Jailen Sinclair-Bergin – Finance
Ricardo Treco – Management
William Watson – Management

Women’s Track

Bella Ascone* – Entrepreneurship
Diana Barazarte – Biology
Julianna Bassano – Exercise and Sport Science
Lauren Brooks – Exercise and Sport Science
Bella Butler – Speech-Language and Communication Disorders
Sophia DeBellas* – Public Health
Ornella Forgione – Engineering
Grace Giesting – Nursing Pathway
Isabella Grant – Exercise and Sport Science
Jennifer Greenfield – Exercise and Sport Science
Kristina Hankinson – Psychology
Elizabeth Harrington – Biology
Ally Jakubiak – Human Nutrition
Indica James – Biology
Sativa James – Nursing Pathway
Bridget McGrath – Biology & Neuroscience
Meghan McNabb – Human Nutrition
Kiana Medina – Exercise and Sport Science
Melissa Mitjans – Entrepreneurship
Sana Omirbek – Marketing
Maggie Ragsdale* – Biology & Neuroscience
Corinne Renshaw – Environmental Science & Marine Biology
Leena Saidi – Biology
Amanda Stone – Optometry (Doctorate)
Jillian Thorning* – Biology
Eden Toal – Nursing
Kayla Wommack – Psychology

Tennis

Maya Benaich – Biology
Sofia Carpi – Management
Isabella Ciancaglini* – Business Agility and Innovation (Master’s)
Kristyna Hranacova* – Management
Priscila Janikian* – Finance (Master’s)
Julia Moraes – Entrepreneurship
Amina Sagadiyeva* – Biology
Sofia Shing – Psychology

Rowing

Sadie Adamo – Nursing Pathway
Lucia Allen* – Sport and Recreation Management
Amanda Bogle – Environmental Science
Azalea Daisley – Biology
Sophia Florez Venegas – Finance
Hattie Gump – Undecided
Emma Hickey – Neuroscience
Mollie Ireland – Exercise and Sport Science
Charlotte Johannesen* – Marine Biology
Jordan Maruskin – Accounting
Nahiara Montenegro – Marketing
Milly Murphy – Biology
Danna Palacios Requena – Finance
Anaiya Person – Criminal Justice
Margianna Petridi – Psychology
Ysabel Ribeiro – Exercise and Sport Science
V Robinson* – Psychology
Chrysta Snair – Law

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Stupp Signs Professional Contract with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Former Nova Southeastern women’s basketball standout Aubrey Stupp signed a first professional contract with Gżira Athleta Birkirkara, a top club in the Malta Women’s Basketball League. The signing was confirmed by Eurobasket, marking a significant milestone for the Farmersville, Ohio native.

Stupp had a decorated two-year run at Nova Southeastern. During the 2024–25 season, she led the Sharks in scoring with an impressive 13.6 points per game, while also shooting 50 percent from the field. Her offensive prowess was displayed throughout the year, including a career-high 31-point performance against Florida Southern in February. Stupp’s standout season earned her a place on the Sunshine State Conference First Team, and she was named SSC Player of the Week during the final stretch of the regular season.

During the 2023–24 campaign, Stupp averaged 10.6 points per game on 49 percent shooting, while also earning a spot on the All-SSC Third Team. Over her two seasons with the Sharks, Stupp became one of the team’s most reliable contributors.

To read more about Stupp’s signing, visit the official Eurobasket article here.

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NSU Athletics External Team recognized at National Level

ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) and Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC) announced their 2024-25 award recipients during the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention.

Nova Southeastern Athletics External Operations team, which includes Assistant Athletic Director for External Affairs Robert “Bubba” Baroniel, Manager of Athletic Communications Jon Leatherman, the Coordinator for Revenue Generation, Marketing and Promotions, Kacie John, Athletic Communications Coordinator Joshua Raphael and Graphic Design & Digital Media Coordinator Joe Hausman, was recognized as a national finalist for the NACMA Multiplatform Brand Campaign and Membership Drives awards. NSU Athletics was awarded bronze in both categories.

“It has been an honor to be named a finalist for two NACMA awards,” said Kacie. “Creating these campaigns and watching them evolve throughout the year has been incredibly fulfilling. Seeing these efforts recognized on a national level is incredibly rewarding.”

The Multiplatform Brand Campaign’s submission was highlighted by the “Shark County” brand launch in August 2024. “Shark County” is a brand initiative focusing on connecting the Nova Southeastern community with the local Broward County and South Florida areas.

Kacie added, “The #SharkCounty brand campaign, created by our external operations team, aimed to unite NSU and the local community, along with cementing that Sharks Athletics is an NCAA Division II powerhouse. #SharkCounty was implemented in all marketing, ticketing, and game day collateral throughout the school year, in addition to being shown on t-shirts for every sport and rally towels. To further push the brand identity, each ticket sold for a Sharks Athletic event ended in 954, further cementing the tie with Broward County.”

In the membership drive category, NSU focused on strengthening relationships with season ticket holders, leading to a 206% increase across season ticket revenue. “We have something special here at NSU. We have an incredible brand of basketball, hosted in one of the best venues across the country,” said Baroniel. It was our team’s goal to capitalize on the moment and generate a significant increase in year two of selling season tickets. Thanks to the effort of our team, and the support of our fans, we were able to bring Shark County together and turn the Rick Case Arena into one of the toughest places to win on the road.”

Hausman, the Digital Media and Graphic Design Coordinator, was recognized as a finalist for the Graphic Designer of the Year award for NCAA Division II. His portfolio is among the best across all levels of collegiate athletics.

“I’m honored and proud to be recognized as a finalist for the Graphic Designer of the Year award,” said Hausman. I pride myself on maintaining a high standard when creating content that showcases our incredible student-athletes, coaches, and athletic department.”

Hausman was awarded the most first place finishes of any individual representing a college or university across all divisions. Hausman was recognized with the best photo of the year, milestone and record graphic, major award and championship graphic, while finishing second in the designer of the year and best of NCAA Division II.

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NSU Athletics Places Ninth in Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) has announced the 2024-25 Learfield Directors’ Cup final standings on Tuesday afternoon. The Nova Southeastern University Athletic Department, for the third consecutive year, earned a top 10 finish, placing ninth among 248 NCAA Division II institutions. NSU won two NCAA Division II national championships – Women’s Swimming and Men’s Basketball – while a total of 12 programs advanced to postseason competition.

Scoring for the Learfield Directors’ Cup is as follows – Overall, 15 sports are counted in the standings, four of which must be women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball and baseball. The next highest (11 max) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings. The final 2024-25 standings for the Learfield Directors’ Cup can be found here.

“A third consecutive top-10 finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup is an incredible achievement that reflects the relentless hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and senior administration,” said Interim Director of Athletics Ryan Romero. “I’m proud to represent this nationally recognized athletic department and university. Our mission is to provide a holistic championship experience for our student-athletes—and our continued success, both in competition and in the classroom, is truly unmatched.”

Nova Southeastern totaled 203.25 points during the spring championship season. NSU Women’s Tennis earned 90 points, ending the season as the national finalist for the second time in three years. Sharks Women’s Golf, the 2025 Sunshine State Conference champions, added 67 points with a tenth-place finish at the NCAA Division II national championship tournament. NSU Softball (37.5 points), and Men’s Golf (9) added an additional 46.5 points.

Nova Southeastern accumulated 120 points during the fall and 324 points during the winter semester. In addition to the two NCAA national championships, NSU Athletics claimed four Sunshine State Conference championships – Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Basketball (regular season and tournament), and Women’s Golf.

The Sunshine State Conference was the only NCAA Division II conference to have two institutions place within the top-10 of the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings – Tampa (5th) and Nova Southeastern (9th).

In addition to the success in competition, Nova Southeastern Athletics continued its tradition of academic excellence during the 2024-25 year. NSU Athletics achieved the highest winter semester grade point average in departmental history (3.49), while also reaching 30 consecutive semesters with a departmental GPA above 3.00 and 12th consecutive semester higher than 3.25.

About Learfield: Learfield is the media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

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Hranacova, Ciancaglini recognized as ITA All-Americans

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced its All-Americans for the 2024-25 season. The second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks had two student-athletes garner recognition, as Kristyna Hranacova was named to both the singles and doubles team honors and was joined on the doubles All-American team by Isabella Ciancaglini.

The criteria for ITA All-American singles honors are finishing in the top 20 of the final ITA National Singles Rankings. All-American recognition is awarded to doubles teams who finish in the top 10 of the final ITA National Doubles Rankings.

Hranacova, ranked second in NCAA Division II, led the Sharks to the program’s third consecutive NCAA DII championship match. Hranacova carried a 22-3 record during the spring season, including winning eight consecutive matches during the postseason. In doubles competition, Hranacova – pairing with Ita Habekovic and Isabella Ciancaglini throughout the season – compiled a 21-6 record, including winning each of her final 10 contests. In addition to her success on the tennis courts, Hranacova was also recognized to the CSC Academic All-America first-team.

Ciancaglini, ranked alongside Hranacova as the second doubles tandem in Division II, held a 24-4 record in doubles action, while holding an undefeated 9-0 record with Hranacova during the Sharks’ postseason run.

The Nova Southeastern Sharks Women’s Tennis program will return to competition in the fall of 2025. To stay up-to-date on Nova Southeastern Women’s Tennis during the offseason, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_WTennis.

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