NSU’s student-run newspaper, housed in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts
Special Section THE CURRENT
THE CURRENT
Letter from the editor
Dear Readers,
Located in the Don Taft University Center Room 328
@makonews / makomedia.nova.edu
NEWSROOM
Phone: 954-262-8455
makonews@nova.edu
Bryce Johnson Editor-in-Chief
Bella Giaquinto Sports Editor
Isabella Fernandez de Cueto Assistant Sports Editor
Brielle Aguayo Art Director/Reporter
Nicole Gomez Graphic Designer
Alexandra Acevedo Assistant Graphic Designer
Josh Leatherman Sports Intern
Chris Delboni Mako Media Network Director
Mike Lynn Mako Media Network Assistant Director
Dr. Megan Fitzgerald Mako Media Network Faculty Adviser
Dr. Mario D’Agostino Sports Desk Adviser
Joyce Moed The Current’s Faculty Adviser
Dr. Shanti Bruce Chair, Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts
Front Page Art
Featuring NSU sports teams including men’s basketball, men’s baseball women’s basketball and women’s rowing.
Top (Left to Right):
Alyssa Drogemuller, Third-Team All-American selection and AllSSC First-Team for the softball team.
Mike Hay, Sunshine State Conference Golfer of the Year.
Hi, thank you for reading this year’s sports special section. I’m Bella Giaquinto, sports editor for The Current. I’m so excited to welcome you to Nova Southeastern University.
Throughout the 2023-2024 season, NSU’s athletic department continued to dominate NCAA Division II athletics, bringing home numerous accolades. Women’s swimming and women’s tennis each added another NCAA national championship, bringing NSU to 13 titles. NSU also achieved eight NCAA individual national titles, recognized 28 student-athletes as All-Americans, and earned four Sunshine State Conference Championships.
NSU’s success accompanies the achievements of South Florida athletics, as the Florida Panthers made history beating the Edmonton Oilers to win their first Stanley Cup, the Miami Heat once again made the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Miami Dolphins continued to upgrade their roster as it chases the ever-elusive Superbowl title, and Inter Miami CF is currently leading the Eastern Conference of the MLS.
This sports special section discusses the current remodeling of our facilities, features our athletes and coaches, and what drives their national championship aspirations. Our goal is to inform and
inspire incoming and returning Sharks, along with the greater NSU community, on all NSU sports-related news. While I look forward to the 2024-2025 season, I am most excited to share each achievement with our readers. If you want to share feedback or schedule a time to chat, visit the newsroom inside the University Center in room 328. Our editorial team hopes you will enjoy this special section of The Current and wishes you the best this semester.
Happy reading,
Bella Giaquinto
Nadia Lindner, First-Team All-American, AVCA and D2 CCA South Region Player of the Year, SSC Player of the Year, All-SSC First-Team, and All-South Region First-Team for the women’s volleyball team.
Bottom (Top to Bottom):
Marcel Snitko, men’s swimming team 200-yard freestyle champion. NSU’s women’s swimming team, second time national champions. Women’s tennis team, first time NCAA champions.
Photos courtesy of NSU Athletics. Designed by Mako Media Network assistant director Mike Lynn.
Bella Giaquinto, sports editor of The Current Sports Special Section.
The
Previewing the NSU Athletic Facilities
By Josh Leatherman and Bella Giaquinto
Rick Case Arena:
The Rick Case Arena is the home of women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, and the 2022-23 NCAA Division II National Champion men’s basketball team. The arena has hosted the NCAA Men’s South Region Tournament for three consecutive seasons. Located at the Don Taft University Center, the arena can seat 4,500 spectators.
NSU Regular Season Ticketing Information
NSU students, faculty and staff:
NSU students, faculty and staff each receive one free general admission ticket per regular season home event with a valid NSU ID. Students, faculty and staff do not need to pre-download tickets. They will be granted access to the event upon showing their NSU ID at the gate.
Group tickets:
Discounted pricing is available to groups of 10 or more attendees. Tickets must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance to receive a discount. Contact kj914@nova.edu.
NSU Baseball Complex:
The Shark’s baseball facility has a grandstand that can accommodate 500 spectators. The facility was awarded the Field of Excellence Award in 2009.
NSU Aquatic Center:
A state-of-the-art facility with an Olympic-sized swimming pool is home to the men’s swimming team and back-to-back National Championship winning women’s swivmming team.
Player and coach pass list:
Guests included on the player/ coach pass list should head directly to the gate to claim their tickets.
Pricing and policies:
All NSU athletic facilities are Hometown Ticketing, mobile venues. Ticket prices for all NSU regular season athletic events are $10 for adults, and $8 for seniors, military and NSU alumni. Kids 12 & under are free. Tickets will be instantly delivered to the email address provided or uploaded to the Hometown Ticketing Fan app after purchase. All sales are final. There will be no refunds or exchanges unless the game is canceled. Refunds can be requested by contacting
NSU Soccer Complex:
The soccer complex is home to both women’s and men’s soccer teams, as the former Miami Dolphins training facility was converted to the new NSU soccer complex in 2023. The stadium seats 1,000.
Grande Oaks Golf Club:
The Grande Oaks Golf Club is the home course for the four-time NCAA Division II National Champion women’s golf team and threetime NCAA National Champion men’s golf team. The course par is 71 with a yardage of 6,680.
sharksathletics@nova.edu.
There is no re-entry and ticket gates open one hour prior to game time.
Parking:
Pay to park at any open lot or parking garage. Parking fees are paid using the PayByPhone application or Pay booth where applicable. Each parking garage and parking lot on NSU’s Campus has its own PayByPhone location number. Please use the correct PayByPhone location number when parking on Campus. For more information, visit https:// www.nova.edu/publicsafety/parking/visitors.html or call NSU Public Safety at 954-262-8999.
NSU Tennis Center at Rolling Hills:
Located in Grande Oaks with six 36-feet-by-78-feet courts, it is the home of the 2024 NCAA Division II National Champion women’s tennis team.
Coming Soon
NSU Softball:
This facility is under construction, and is the newest enhancement to NSU athletic facilities.
Prohibited items:
The following items are prohibited at all NSU Athletic Facilities: alcoholic beverages, weapons of any kind, fireworks, coolers or picnic baskets, bicycles, air horns, laser pointers, musical instruments or noise makers and animals (with the exception of trained service animals for individuals with a disability).
Where to watch:
Athletic Communications offers live audio and video streaming of some home games and events throughout the season. The live stream will be available on www. nsusharks.com.
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS
The baseball team comes back to sweep the double-header against Davenport.
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swimming team hosts the 2023-2024 Shark Invitational.
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NSU women’s soccer sophomore Ella Niemelä takes a free kick at the new NSU soccer complex.
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NSU women’s tennis prepares for its match up during the Shark Bite Invite.
FALL
By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto
Men’s cross country:
The men’s cross country team finished fifth at the Sunshine State Conference cross country championships. Adrien Zambaux, David Mahnke and Marcus Tortorella qualified for the NCAA South Region Championship, with Tortorella finishing 50th overall.
Women’s cross country:
The women’s cross country team finished second at the SSC Cross Country Championships, led by Leena Saidi, Eden Toal and Ally Jakubiak. This marks its highest finish in the tournament since 2012. Leena Saidi also finished fourth at the NCAA South Region Championship, breaking the 6k school record time with 20:48:20 and qualifying for the National Championship.
Meet the seasonal teams
Men’s soccer:
The Sharks finished the 2023 season with a 7-7-3 record and a Sunshine State Conference semifinal appearance. Zyan Andrade, Tobias Pellio, and Alessandro Salvadego earned D2CCA All-South Region second team honors.
Women’s soccer:
The women’s soccer team built on its previous success, advancing to the third round of the NCAA tournament and ending the season with a 12-5-1 record. They look to continue this success in the fall.
Women’s volleyball:
The Sharks made it to the second round of the NCAA South Region Tournament. Nadia Lindner earned Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and became the first AVCA First Team All-American in program history. Taylor Stockman received AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, becoming the first Shark in 14 years to achieve backto-back All-American honors.
WINTER
Men’s basketball:
The men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division II
National Championship game for the second year in a row and finished the season with a 32-3 record.
Shane Hunter led the team in points, points-per-game, rebounds, rebounds-per-game and blocks, while also earning NABC, Sunshine State Conference, and D2CCA AllSouth Region first team honors.
Women’s basketball:
The women’s basketball team made it to the NCAA South Region Championship. It broke a program record with 20 consecutive wins and finished its historic season with a 25-6 record. Head coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry was a finalist for the WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year.
Men’s swimming and diving:
The Sharks finished in eighth place at the NCAA Division II National Championship while
winning one individual NCAA national championship. Marcel Snitko earned the national championship by winning the 200-yard freestyle, marking the second consecutive year a member of the team wins the 200-yard freestyle national championship.
Women’s swim and diving:
For the second year in a row, the women’s swimming team won the NCAA Division II National Championship. The team won six individual NCAA national championships, four by Emily Trieschmann and two by Rafaela Raurich. Trieschmann won SSC Swimmer of the Year and coach Ben Hewitt won SSC Coach of the Year.
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS Maja Henriksson sets up a scoring chance from the corner against Florida Southern College.
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MJ Iraldi drives to the paint in the SSC tournament championship game against Barry University.
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Nadia Lindner and the Sharks square off with Lynn University in the second round of the NCAA Division II south region tournament.
SPRING
Baseball:
The Sharks ended their 2024 campaign with a 28-18 record and finished third place in the Sunshine State Conference with no postseason play. Justin Wachs received first-team All-Sunshine State Conference honors and Jorge Braceras received All-Defensive Team honors.
Men’s and women’s lacrosse:
NSU will field men’s and women’s lacrosse teams starting in the 2025-26 academic year, becoming the university’s 18th and 19th intercollegiate athletic programs.
Women’s rowing:
The women’s rowing program completed its first season since the COVID-19 pandemic with a fifth place finish at the Sunshine State Conference Championship meet. Lauren Gray earned All-Sunshine State Conference honors and Mollie Ireland earned All-Freshman/ Novice honors.
Men’s and women’s track and field:
Since its inaugural season in 2007, the track and field program has had six NCAA Championship appearances. Next spring, the Sharks look to continue last season’s success, marked by a new school record in the women’s 4x800 relay by Bella Butler, Amanda Stone, Megan Winterbottom, and McKinzie Winget.
Women’s softball:
The women’s softball team advanced to the NCAA South Region I Championship. It finished the season with a 39-14 overall record, with an impressive 23-1 home record. Alyssa Drogemuller earned NFCA All-American honors for the second consecutive year, and Brenna Lokeinsky earned an NCAA DII Rawlings Golden Glove.
Men’s golf:
The men’s golf team advanced to the second round of the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Tournament, where it finished in forth place. Joseba Torres qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament, where he finished tied for fifth place.
Women’s golf:
The Sharks ended their season with an 11th place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament. Ellen Andersson finished in 14th place overall at the tournament and was awarded AllSunshine State Conference honors, along with Maia Samuelsson and Hannah Mitterberger.
Women’s tennis:
The women’s tennis team won the NCAA Division II National Championship for the first time in program history, also setting a program record with 27 wins in a single season. Natalie Espinal and Freya Davies won both their respective doubles and singles matches.
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Maia Samuelsson tees off during the NCAA Division II Regional.
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS Kerstyn Shaw drives a double in the Sharks final series at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS
Sophomore pitcher Pedro Acosta makes his first career start against Barry University.
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS
Natalie Espinal prepares to serve during the Division II national championship match.
Diving into a dynasty
Swim team claims second national championship
By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto
During the 2023-2024 season, the women’s swim team won its second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship.
With a previous national title already under its belt, the team knew that repeating such success would be a challenge.
“We knew we were more of an underdog this year because we had a target on our backs having already won the national championship, and it’s a lot harder to defend the title,” said Emily Trieschmann, NSU alumna who led NSU to the title for the second straight year, brought home five national titles, and earned two-time SSC Female Athlete of the Year honors.
The Sharks finished the regular season with a 7-2 record and made adjustments heading into the postseason, inspired by its national championship experience. These changes proved to be instrumental in the team’s performance.
“Towards the end of the season we focused a lot more on event specific strategies and practices to emulate
the national championship meet, and it added a level of specificity we haven’t seen in our program,” said head coach Ben Hewitt, six-time SSC Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year. “The team adapted well to it and were focused, which made a huge difference heading into the national championships.”
The team started the national championship by breaking the national record for the 800 Freestyle relay.
“Getting that result so early on was really important for the team because it helped us control our nerves and set the tone for the rest of the meet,” Trieschmann said.
The strong start gave the team extra motivation and energy, which was felt by not only them, but also their opponents.
“Throughout the whole meet we were cheering really loudly for each other, and the other teams were noticing it, some even came up to us to let us know they felt how energetic we were,” said Rafaela Raurich, senior entrepreneurship major and team member. “That really set us apart and gave us more motivation to win.”
The Sharks earned seven individual national championship titles— Trieschmann won the 1000, 200, 500 and 1650 Freestyles, Raurich won the 100 and 200 Butterflies, and May Lowy and Emilia
Ronningdal joined Trieschmann and Raurich in winning the 800 Freestyle Relay. These individual wins ultimately gave the women’s swim team its second consecutive team title.
“Winning back-to-back felt amazing and validating because all the work we’ve put in over the last few years has started to pay off. As a program, we’ve put ourselves in a great position to sustain long-term success,” Hewitt said.
The women’s swim team aims to maintain its success this upcoming season.
“The goal for us is to keep winning, and we are all very motivated and excited to do so,” Raurich said.
For more information:
To keep up with the women’s swim team, follow them on Instagram and X @nsu_swim
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Hailey Williams begins the 1000 yard freestyle at the NCAA Division II National Championships.
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The women’s swim team earns their second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship 2023-2024.
Women’s tennis wins first national championship in program history
By Bella Giaquinto and Isabella Fernandez de Cueto
Bringing its first NCAA Division II national championship home to NSU, the women’s tennis team secured the 2024 title after defeating six-time defending champion, Barry University, 4-2. After a highly competitive season-long battle, the Sharks finished with a 27-4 record.
“It’s amazing to be a part of history here at NSU,” said head women’s tennis coach Doug Neagle.
While the Sharks finished third in the Sunshine State Conference during the regular season, they earned the No. 1 ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and dominated in NCAA tournament play. Recognized as Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year, ITA South Region
Coach of the Year and ITA National Coach of the Year, Neagle ensured the team kept an open mind going into the 2023-2024 season.
“One of the strategies we had was just being very vague with our goals and establishing a culture of elevating,” Neagle said. “We really kept it as simple as that and the results just came organically.”
Freya Davies, graduate student and former team member, said that Neagle’s strategy worked in their favor.
“We worked hard and waited so it’s all that preparation that led us to that end moment,” Davies said. “Then obviously winning made it all worth it.”
Davies said that the team remained close all season and that it ultimately led to its success.
“We always wanted to go to
practice because we loved seeing each other, so practice didn’t seem like much of a chore for any of us,” Davies said.
Despite injuries and illnesses, the team continued to stay positive and remain supportive of each other.
“Like all teams, different injuries and illnesses happen at certain times, but at the same time those turned into positives because someone always stepped up for their teammates,” Neagle said. “If somebody was down and out, whether it was a sickness or an injury, the teammates always picked each other up and everyone was ready when their name was called.”
During their championship run, the Sharks faced pressure against Barry, coming off of three previous losses.
“We lost to Barry three times
already this season, once in the normal season, once at indoor nationals and once in the conference tournament,” Davies said. “I think we had a mental block against Barry so that was one of the challenges that we worked really hard together as a team to overcome and gain a little bit more belief that we could beat them and we did eventually.”
Although they faced initial difficulty, Neagle saw the talent and confidence from within the team going into the national championship.
“They went into that national championship with a lot of confidence,” Neagle said. “I think they went in with confidence not because I was superficially giving it to them. I think they earned it by hard work and truly believing that they would do it.”
Davies, hoping to return next season as the graduate assistant coach, was happy to earn the title with her team and has promising expectations for next season.
“It’s probably my biggest achievement in my tennis career and then doing it with those girls just made it better and even sweeter,” Davies said. “We can definitely achieve a win again and run deep into the postseason.”
Neagle plans on bringing the same mindset into next season, hoping to lead the Sharks to success through their tight culture.
“We have such good team chemistry and culture going right now. We’re just going to work on that everyday just by myself leading by example,” Neagle said. “We have fun and get it done.”
The making of ‘‘Crutchfield: A Basketball Documentary’’
By Bella Giaquinto
Benjamin Jennette, an NSU alumnus, turned his short film independent study project into “Crutchfield: A Basketball Documentary,” highlighting the mind behind NSU’s men’s basketball team’s first national title in 2023.
“It has been by far the most challenging project I have ever tackled,” Jennette said. “It gave me a new perspective on my own capabilities and creative stamina.”
Graduating from NSU with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and minor in digital media production in May 2024, Jennette dedicated his last semester to learning the story of men’s basketball coach Jim Crutchfield, who orchestrated the Sharks improbable 36-0 National Championship victory.
“For my last semester, one of the required courses for my minor was a +new short film independent study course with Alex Bordino and I thought, what better story to tell then the championship that happened last year with the basketball
team,” Jennette said.
Jennette produced the film within five months, spending more than 100 hours editing.
“I had a little bit of help with the cameras during the interviews but all of the planning, production, and editing were just me,” Jennette said. “The number of hours put into it, especially in the editing process, was super challenging but also very rewarding.”
While Jennette gained valuable editing and film production skills, he found the most joy in connecting with Crutchfield, fellow coaches and student-athletes.
“The most enjoyable part was the interviews,” Jennette said. “After every interview it was really nice to know that I got such great responses from everybody. Crutchfield’s super cool to talk to, really all the coaches and players are.”
Jennette started the project in January 2024. He was committed to releasing the documentary when he graduated in May. Jennette just made his deadline, airing it on his YouTube channel on May 2. Within
two weeks of posting, the documentary gained more than 3,000 views.
“Seeing it come together during that last month was really cool,”
Jennette said. “If I had the opportunity to do another project like this, I would definitely jump on it, hopefully with a crew next time.”
After only a few weeks of premiering the documentary, Jennette has received positive feedback.
“It was awesome,” said Mike Chalas, former director of player development for the basketball team. “It took me back to those moments that were described and gave me more of an appreciation of being a part of such a unique team,” Chalas said.
Crutchfield said the documentary showed him a side of the players that he never saw before.
“There’s a video of RJ Sunahara and Kobe Rodgers as they walked the whole way onto the court with their arms around each other during the national championship game,” Crutchfield said. “I didn’t see that because I was still in the locker
room, but it shows the guys as a team, in brotherhood, doing things together and it touched me a little bit so that was my favorite part.”
Jennette said that he is grateful to those who helped with his film.
“I owe a huge thanks to Jon Leatherman, Joe Hausman and Professor Alex Bordino for the filming equipment, archive NSU basketball footage and photos, and access to Crutchfield and the assistant coaches for interviews,” Jennette said. “I also would love to thank everyone who shared the documentary once it was released. Without them, it would never have received the exposure that it has, and hopefully it’s not over yet.”
For more information:
Scan the QR code to watch “Crutchfield: A Basketball Documentary,”
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS
Jim Crutchfield, head coach of men’s basketball, observes his players during a game.
COURTESY OF BENJAMIN JENNETTE Benjamin Jennette, director, created the cover art for the documentary.
NSU student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom
By Bella Giaquinto
As a student-athlete, managing the rigors of on-field performance and in-class success is no small feat.
During the 2023-2024 winter semester, NSU student-athletes showed their prowess in both situations, achieving a 3.38 departmental grade point average, bringing the overall departmental GPA above 3.00.
“The academic performance is always top notch, and to be able to balance their athletic expectation as well as their academic expectations and excel in both parts of their life, speaks volumes to their character and their determination and their discipline for both,” Deanna Rivero, NSU athletics manager of athletic academic services, said.
Within the past year, 82% of NSU student-athletes recorded grade point averages higher than 3.00, with a departmental record of 44 achieving a perfect 4.00 GPA. 95 student-athletes were also named to the Director’s List (GPAs higher than 3.80) and 211 were recognized with Scholar Athlete distinctions (GPA above 3.25).
Rivero, who joined NSU athletics in 2018, witnessed and contributed to the growth of the department over the last six years.
“We are very thankful that our campus partnerships have grown tremendously,” Rivero said. “Over the past few years, we’ve streamlined the department to where now the student athletes go to the departments they need help in and we work with them.”
Rachel Fineberg, associate athletic director for student-athlete support services, senior woman administrator and Title IX coordinator, also joined NSU athletics in 2018. Fineberg overseas areas related to student-athlete academic success, student-athlete development, NCAA compliance, diversity, equity and inclusion and works closely with many campus partners to allow for a seamless student-athlete experience.
“I just finished my sixth year at NSU in my current position overseeing the student- athlete support services, and I’ve been fortunate to have an outstanding member of my team, Deanna Rivero, and together, we’ve been
able to look at the structures that we have in place and the support that we have in place,” Fineberg said. Athletic academic services offer a number of resources for student-athletes, such as academic monitoring, one-on-one meetings at least once a semester, academic success programs, as well as identifying certain students, whether incoming or returning, who need a little bit more one-on-one attention.
“Anybody in our academic success program meets with us, whether that be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly,” Rivero said. “We go over their grades, go over their to-do list for the week, do a lot of referrals to Campus Resource, and will refer them to the Tutoring [and Testing] Center.”
Fineberg highlights the support her staff provides to the athletes and why the athletes strive toward a high academic performance.
“We have a support staff here, though, that is monitoring their performance,” Fineberg said. “They have a little bit of an incentive to do the best that they can, because they want to be eligible to compete, obviously, but they also want their coach to be satisfied with their performance.”
Athletic academic services also focus on the overall development of the student-athletes.
“We’ve really emphasized being able to recognize that talent and develop it holistically, which would include the other pieces of the puzzle that we coordinate with career development, personal development, leadership development, and providing them opportunities to get involved in the community as a whole with community service,” Fineberg said.
Rivero expands on how the department exposes the student-athletes to environments that would develop them professionally.
“In the fall, we had an etiquette dinner where we taught them how to have etiquette while you’re at a professional dinner with somebody, whether that be an interview or potential employer, and then in the spring, we did a networking night,” said Rivero. “We try our best to kind of, you know, develop them holistically, academically, athletically, professionally.”
They also ensure to recognize each student-athlete for their athletic success.
“We were able to induct 34 student-athletes into our honor society this year, which again, I think is a testament to their hard work and our desire to celebrate and recognize their success,” Fineberg said.
Going into the Fall 2024 semester, athletic academic services will continue to support their student athletes by guaranteeing they are always supported through the department, recognized for their achievements, and encourage student-athletes to always ask for help when needed.
“My biggest piece of advice that I give at our youth student-athlete orientation, and again with my UNIV classes is, don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether that’s help in the classroom, help in transitioning to college, or help in finding a job to pay your tuition bill that may be a stressor for you,” Fineberg said. “We have the people here that want to give you that support, and we just need to know what it is that you’re struggling with.”
Sharks in the pros: Bianka Texidor
By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto
NSU 2024 graduate and former Sharkette Bianka Texidor was a dancer for the Florida Panthers in the 2023-24 season.
Texidor, from Orlando, began dancing at 6 years old. When joining NSU in 2020, Texidor was unsure about her future both in dance and at NSU.
“I didn’t think I would continue dancing in college, but I did decide to major in dance. I did mostly virtual classes, which made learning about dance difficult, so I started to contemplate transferring out of NSU. A main reason I stayed was the Sharkettes,” Texidor said.
The Sharkettes is a dance team that performs at NSU sporting and community events. Texidor danced with the Sharkettes for two years. She also served as the team’s recognition chair, where she recognized and celebrated her teammate’s accomplishments.
dance.
“I initially wanted to take a whole year to just train for auditions before I attended any, but I later decided I would attend a few auditions solely for the experience, not really expecting to make the team or anything,” Texidor said.
After a week of auditions, Texidor became a member of the team.
Texidor and The Florida Panthers Dance Team performed at 52 home games for more than a million people during the 2023-2024 season, culminating in the team winning the 2024 Stanley Cup.
“Seeing the impact us dancers had on the audience was such a nice feeling, and being able to experience that environment and be a part of it was amazing. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Texidor said.
Coach Bitna kept up with Texidor’s season, and is excited to see her dancer’s dreams come true.
she achieves her goals makes me so proud, and she is only going to continue to grow,” Bitna said.
Texidor has advice for her fellow Sharkettes and other dancers who want to get into professional sports dance teams.
“Embrace who you are and be yourself. That is how you set yourself apart from the rest during auditions,” Texidor said.
Texidor looks forward to dancing with the Florida Panthers Dance Team again when the season starts back up in October.
For more information:
Scan the QR code to learn about the Florida Panthers
Texidor said her experience with the Sharkettes helped shape her into the person and dancer she is today.
“The Sharkettes is a tight-knit community, and I saw so much growth in my confidence and dancing on top of growing and maturing as a person. They left such an impact on me, and I don’t think I would have ever auditioned for any professional teams if it wasn’t for the Sharkettes,” Texidor said.
Shanygne Bitna, who had been coaching the Sharkettes for about a decade, saw Texidor’s potential early on.
“From the first time I saw her dancing and performing, I knew she would be on a professional dance team. She has always had the qualities of a professional dancer,” Bitna said.
In August of 2023, Texidor auditioned for the Florida Panthers Dance Team as a way of introducing herself to the world of professional
“I saw her work so hard for this for two years, so seeing it pay off as
Dance Team
COURTESY OF BIANKA TEXIDOR
Bianka Texidor, 2024 NSU graduate and former Sharkette, dances on the ice rink.
COURTESY OF BIANKA TEXIDOR
Bianka Texidor, 2024 NSU graduate and former Sharkette, stands in front of Stanley Cup Final wall.
Sharks in the pros: Giselle Aliancin
By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto
NSU senior and former Sharkette Giselle Aliancin was a cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins in the 2023-24 season.
Aliancin began dancing at the age of 2 but did not start cheerleading until her teenage years.
“I was put into dance from a very early age, but when I got to middle school, I decided to join the cheerleading team while also dancing at an outside studio. I loved both and continued both throughout middle and high school,” Aliancin said.
The West Palm Beach native came to NSU in 2021 and immediately decided to continue pursuing dance.
“I knew I needed to do something with dance when I got to college, so when I found out Nova had a dance team, I had to audition, even though I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” Aliancin said.
Aliancin became the only freshman on the team at the time and was a member of the Sharkettes for two seasons.
“She started off as the baby of the team, very soft and shy. By her second year she had grown so much and completely came out of her shell,” said Shanygne Bitna, who had been coaching the Sharkettes for about a decade.
Aliancin valued her time at the Sharkettes and realizes the impact the team had on her life.
“Being a member of the Sharkettes helped me grow as a person tremendously and helped me meet amazing people who became lifelong friends. I also learned a lot about dance and really got to develop my abilities,” Aliancin said.
Aliancin auditioned to be a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader in May of 2023. The audition process consisted of three separate rounds of auditions followed by a threemonth training camp.
“Just within the audition process I saw her really grow and flourish, and I knew she was ready for this opportunity,” Bitna said.
Aliancin persevered through
the rigorous process before officially becoming a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader.
“It really helped me for the process to be that long because it showed me just how much work it takes to be in this position,” Aliancin said.
Aliancin performed as a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader in nine home games during the 2023 season.
Although she was faced with thousands of people, Aliancin quickly moved past her nerves and thrived in her new environment.
“Dancing in front of all those people was so thrilling and fun that I forgot the nerves that came along with it. I loved seeing young girls excitedly dancing along with us because it’s like I’m inspiring them too,” Aliancin said.
Another responsibility of the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders is community outreach. They regularly visit nursing homes and hospitals, and host and attend charity events. They also throw watch
parties with the fans at different local restaurants for away games. This aspect is one of Aliancin’s favorite parts of being a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader.
“Participating in my community has always been important to me, so being able to do this in a big organization means a lot to me because I feel like I can make a significant impact on the people I meet in the community,” Aliancin said.
Aliancin looks forward to dancing with the Miami Dolphins for her second season in 2024.
For more information: Scan the QR code to learn about the Miami Dolphins Cheerleading squad.
COURTESY OF GISELLE ALIANCIN
Giselle Aliancin, senior and former Sharkette, waves to the crowd.
COURTESY OF GISELLE ALIANCIN
Giselle Aliancin, senior and former Sharkette, featured in the center, dances alongside her teammates at a game.
Meet the
By Josh Leatherman
Student-athlete success starts with dedicated and committed coaches. Each coach brings a unique blend of expertise, passion and leadership to their respective teams that fosters a culture of determination, teamwork and achievement. From the court to the field, our coaches prioritize the development of each player, instilling values that extend far beyond the game. Here are the faces behind our winning teams that steadily guide our Sharks to success both on and off the field.
Julie LeMaire:
Head coach of the softball team since 2015, LeMaire has led the team to remarkable success and significant postseason accolades. Under her leadership, NSU achieved historic milestones, including their first Super Regional appearance, a national tournament run in 2023 and the 2022 SSC regular season title along with individual player awards. In 2024, LeMaire coached Alyssa Drogemuller, recognized as NFCA Third-Team All-American, Brenna Lokeinsky who was named a Rawlings Gold Glove Recipient, six All-Conference players, a freshman of the year, and two All-South region honorees. Previously, she achieved notable success at Emporia State and Fort Hays State, guiding teams to numerous NCAA tournaments and earning multiple Coach of the Year honors. In 15 seasons as a head coach, LeMaire has a career record of 497-319, boasting a .609 winning percentage.
Amy Vaughan:
Vaughan was named head coach of the women’s soccer team in 2024 after coaching the past season as interim head coach. The Sharks finished with a 10-3-1 record making the NCAA tournament and the South Region championship. Before coaching at NSU, Vaughan was on the coaching staff at Keiser University (2015-17) and Barry University (2019-21). In her first season at NSU, Vaughan coached five all-conference players and one player who went pro.
Kim Chavers:
Chavers was named the fourth head coach for the women’s rowing program. Chavers’ collegiate coaching experience started as an assistant coach at Stetson University (20142015), Indiana University (20152018), and Old Dominion University (2018-2019), before taking the head coaching position at Michigan State University (2019-2023). Chavers’ programs have excelled in competition and in the classroom, most notably at MSU with 166 AllBIG 10 academic award winners, 52 BIG 10 Distinguished Scholars, and 42 CRCA Scholar Athletes. In the program’s return to competition, NSU has seen six players named CRCA Scholar Athletes, two All-SSC selections, and the team won two events at the FIRA Championships.
Kacie Ehinger:
Ehinger has been the head coach of the women’s volleyball team since 2022. She began her coaching career at Baldwin-Wallace, where she worked from 2019 to 2021. The Sharks finished with an overall record of 20-11 in 2023 and have made the NCAA tournament in both seasons under coach Ehinger. Ehinger has coached an All-American player on her team in each season at NSU with Taylor Stockman being a two-time honorable mention and Nadia Lindner being the program’s first team All-American in the 2023 season.
athletic coaches
Adrian Morales:
First-year head coach of the baseball team, coach Morales began his coaching career as head coach for Miami-Dade College from (2020–23), where he accumulated a record of 126-60-2. In his first year at NSU, the Sharks finished with an overall record of 2818 and 18-12 in the conference. Morales coached three All-Conference players last season.
Joey Marino:
In his sixth year as head coach of men’s golf, Marino led the team to their third NCAA Division II National Championship in 2022-23. Recognized as the SSC Coach of the Year, Marino guided the Sharks to three wins and seven top-five finishes, with players like Mike Hay and Joseba Torres earning top conference honors and who were both recognized as Second-Team GCAA All-Americans. Under his leadership, the team maintained a high academic standard with a 3.57 GPA and saw several players earn All-American and Academic All-American honors. Marino previously served as an assistant coach for the men’s golf team and brings extensive experience from his time at the University of North Florida.
Jim Crutchfield:
Coach Crutchfield came to NSU in 2017 and has turned the program into one of the premier men’s basketball teams in Division II , with an overall record of 168-24. Crutchfield started his coaching career at West Liberty University (2004-17), turning the Hilltoppers into a nationally recognized powerhouse with seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. After coming to NSU, the Sharks have seen multiple programs, including the first SSC regular season title, Elite Eight trip, and National Championship. The 36-0 2022-23 season, which ended in a National Championship, was the sixth time in Division II history that a team went undefeated. Since restarting play after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sharks men’s basketball team accumulated an overall record of 99-4, 58-2 in Sunshine State Conference play, three SSC regular season titles, three SSC tournament championships, three NCAA South Region Championships, three Elite Eight appearances, two national championship game appearances, and a National Championship. Coach Crutchfield is a three-time SSC Coach of the Year, 2023 Clarance Gaines Coach of the Year, and the 2023 NABC Coach of the Year.
Doug Neagle:
In eight years as head coach of the NSU women’s tennis team, Doug Neagle has transformed the program into a powerhouse, highlighted by the Sharks winning their first NCAA Division II National Championship in 2024. Under his leadership, the team has accumulated 140 wins, NCAA South Region II Championships, Program Record for Wins (27), ITA South Region Coach of the Year, and ITA National Coach of the Year. This season Neagle coached five all-conference players and three ITA All-Americans, with notable achievements from Natalie Espinal and Freya Davies winning the ITA Doubles Cup National Championship. Prior to coaching at NSU, Neagle led successful programs at Towson University, bringing more than 20 years of coaching experience and a distinguished playing career at Salisbury University.
Jonathan Carter:
Carter completed his first year as the head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams at NSU. Carter brings coaching experience to the collegiate and high school fields, Carter has coached at the University of Fort Lauderdale, Florida International University and Long Island University before NSU. He also spent time at Charles W. Flanagan high school located in Florida. In year one under Carter’s instruction, Leena Saidi set a program record at the NCAA South Region Championship and qualified for the NCAA National Championship. The Sharks track teams dominated at the STU open with six wins, and Marcus Tortorella won the 3000-meter run at the Black and Gold Invitational, as well as the 3000-meter at the Miami Hurricanes Invitational.
Heather Wall:
Head coach of the women’s golf team since 2016, Wall has quickly established herself as one of the best coaches in women’s golf, achieving 27 career wins by the 2023-24 season. Under her leadership, the Sharks have excelled, with notable successes, including winning the 2022 Golf Week Division II Fall Classic and the SSC Championship in 2023. In 2018, Wall was named SSC Coach of the Year. In the 2024 season Wall coached two Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-Americans, Ellen Andersson and Maia Samuelsson, and held the No.1 ranking in NCAA Division II for five consecutive weeks, continuing the success from her earlier coaching role at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. A former standout player herself, Wall was a decorated golfer at Florida Southern, where she set numerous records and was inducted into the FSC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
LeAnn Freeland-Curry:
NSU’s longest tenured head coach joined the university in 2011 after spending four seasons at the University of Indianapolis (2007-11). Coach Freeland-Curry has led the women’s basketball to seven 20-win seasons, including last season where the Sharks finished as SSC regular season champions with a 25-6 overall record. The Sharks women’s basketball program has been SSC regular season champions four times and SSC tournament champions two times under coach Freeland-Curry. During her tenure, coach Freeland-Curry has amassed a 247-117 overall record at NSU and been named SSC Coach of the Year three times (2014-15, 201516, 2023-24). The Sharks have won multiple individual player awards, including honorable mention All-American Nicole Scales (2023-24), SSC Freshman of the Year Kailyn Terrell (202324), and consecutive SSC Player of the Year selections Jasmine Wilkins (2014-15) and Kayla Wright (2015-16).
Ben Hewitt:
Hewitt became the head coach of men’s and women’s swimming teams in July 2016, returning after serving as the assistant coach from 2010-2013. Under his leadership, the women’s team has a record of 59-15 while also winning back-toback NCAA Division II National Championships in 2023 and 2024, and coaching seven NCAA individual national champions and numerous All-Americans. The men’s team has a record of 49-14, winning a combined six SSC individual titles with seven student-athletes recognized as CSCAA All-Americans. Hewitt was named the SSC Coach of the Year seven times, six times for the women’s team and one time for the men’s team. Out of the pool, his teams have consistently achieved high academic standards, with numerous swimmers earning academic honors.
Student golfer wins 2024 SSC Men’s Golf Championship
By Bryce Johnson
Michael Hay, former captain of the men’s golf team, graduated from NSU in May 2024 as an exercise and sport science major. He was named as the Sunshine State Conference Golfer of the Year for the 2023-24 season. This comes after Hay was named the individual champion at the 2024 SSC Men’s Golf Championship in April.
“I finished third and fourth in that event in the last couple of years, and was close to winning. So to finally win this year was a pretty good feeling,” Hay said.
NSU competed against several
other universities at the championship, including Barry University, Lynn University, Florida Southern College and Saint Leo University.
Hay practiced on the golf course prior to the event with his team.
“I don’t think I would be in the same position I am now if I didn’t come to Nova. The knowledge from the coaches and everyone else in the Athletic Department has been great,” Hay said.
Joey Marino, head men’s golf coach, met Hay before he came to NSU as a freshman. Marino agrees Hay has significantly improved during his time at NSU.
“He’s probably one of the better
men’s golfers to ever play in this program,” Marino said. “He’s definitely going to be in the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame one day.”
Originally from England, Hay has played golf with his dad since he was young. He plans to play amateur events and eventually go pro.
“When I first came to Nova, I thought I was better than I was, but playing college golf and realizing that there are people that are better than you, it kind of brings you back down to Earth,” Hay said. “There will always be someone better than you out there, but if you put in the work you can get there. The experience overall has definitely matured
me more.”
Marino has no doubt that Hay will play professionally one day.
“Mike has a tremendous amount of patience on the golf course, which is something that we kind of always preached here. Try to stay patient out there and keep your emotions relaxed. And I think Mike’s done that to a really, really high ability out of any player that I’ve ever had. He’s been incredible with it,” Marino said.
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS
Golfer Michael Hay, alumnus, lines up a putt during the SSC championship.
COURTESY OF NSU ATHLETICS
NSU men’s golfer Michael Hay, alumnus, wins SSC individual men’s championship.
