FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – On Tuesday evening, the Nova Southeastern University athletic department held their annual Awards Ceremony & Reception, commemorating the 2017-18 season and commending student-athletes for their academic and athletic prowess in a ceremony held at the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center presented by Brown & Brown.
The evening reception was emceed by master of ceremonies, David Halberstam, with an introductory speech by Director of Athletics Michael Mominey. This year’s senior address was presented by women’s swimming student-athlete Lindsay Craig.
Upon conclusion of the senior address, each team was recognized for their season accomplishments along with the individual standouts listed below.
Winning the Shark Cup Challenge this year was the Volleyball team, presented by NSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Co-Presidents Kyle Kilbourne and Ashlyn Hill. The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Athlete of the Year Awards were presented next by Assistant Athletic Director Steve Orris and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Nick Sexton.
For the third-straight year, women’s basketball, by virtue of the department’s highest team GPA (3.71), was presented with the 2017 Winter JAAWS Award by Associate Athletic Director/SWA Angie Jabir. The women’s golf team, who boasted a GPA of 3.51, was awarded the 2017 Fall JAAWS Award. Women’s swimming student-athlete Jordan Showsand men’s track and field athlete Kyle Forsythe took home the awards.
Scholar-Athletes of the Year were presented next by Assistant Athletic Director, Dr. CA Tolchinsky. The academic awards were given to Ian McQuate, from the men’s cross country and track & field team, and women’s basketball player Amanda Tivenius. They had the highest GPA among seniors in this year’s graduating class, with McQuate earning a 3.92 with a degree in sports and exercise science and Tivenius garnering a 3.94 majoring in business administration.
Next, receiving the NSU Sportsmanship Awards were rowing student-athlete Victoria Porretti and baseball student-athlete Andrew Liberty.
Finally, earning the Male Student-Athlete of the Year was junior baseball player, Jake Anchia, the NSU career leader in homeruns, a 2016 National Champion and one of the most prolific hitters in the baseball program’s history. Women’s swimmer Courtney DeVeny, the SSC Female Swimmer of the Year, SSC Championship Swimmer of the Meet and two-time individual national champion in the 400 IM, was selected NSU’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Below is a list of the individual team honors:
Sharkettes
Ultimate Shark – Victoria Biddle
Outstanding Leader – Sierra Brink
Women’s Cross Country
Ultimate Shark – Michelle Bauer
Ultimate Pilot Shark – Erin Blackwell
Men’s Cross Country
Ultimate Shark – Ian McQuate
Ultimate Pilot Shark – Matthew Taddeo
Volleyball
Ultimate Shark – Denvyr Tyler-Palmer
GR1T Award – Kaelyn Brock
Women’s Soccer
Ultimate Shark – Monica Orteu
Team MVP – Bailey Corbin
Men’s Soccer
Ultimate Shark – Nathanael Washington
Player of the Year – Nathaniel Pells
Women’s Basketball
Ultimate Shark – Alison Hughes
Most Improved Shark – Hailey Conley
Men’s Basketball
Ultimate Shark – David Dennis
Best Teammate – Felipe Souza
Women’s Swimming
Ultimate Shark – Courtney DeVeny
Team MVP – Courtney DeVeny
Men’s Swimming
Ultimate Shark – Jake Jones
Team MVP – Franco Lupoli
Women’s Golf
Ultimate Shark – Michelle Ruiz
Most Improved – Sophie Madden
Men’s Golf
Ultimate Shark – Juan Jose Guerra
Most Improved Award – Martin Larrea
Rowing
Ultimate Shark – Victoria Porretti
Driven Woman – Lisette Villarreal
Women’s Tennis
Ultimate Shark – Ana Navas
Shark Attack Award – Daniela Obando
Women’s Track & Field
Ultimate Shark – Maddy Kenyon
Ultimate Shark Field – Amira Bendriff
Men’s Track & Field
Ultimate Shark – Akeim David
Ultimate Shark Field – Daniel Polinski
Softball
Ultimate Shark – Lexie Storrer
Team MVP – Dana Edmundson
Baseball
Ultimate Shark – Cameron Churchill
Most Outstanding Player – Jake Anchia