NSU Horizons Spring/Summer 2008

scoreboard Sharks Athletics Receives Support and Achieves Success By Robert M. Prior, Ed.D. T he 2007–2008 school year has seen continued success for all the NSU Sharks Athletic teams, with one of the best sports seasons on record. Several sports produced winning seasons, and numerous student-athletes garnered conference, regional, and national accolades. The Sharks volleyball team compiled their best record in program history (26-10), with a 16-win improvement over the previous year. The team also reached the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament and registered an opening round victory, while head coach Steve Wilcosky was named SSC Coach of the Year. The NSU women’s soccer team finished 11-4-2 and advanced to the NCAA Regional tournament for the second consecutive season. Midfielder Stephanie Quinones (junior; Pembroke Pines, Florida) and forward Shurell Burton (junior; Palm Bay, Florida) were voted to the NSCAA All-America Second Team. Quinones became a two-time All-American, as she had been named to the NSCAA All-America Third Team in 2006. The men’s soccer team fashioned an impressive 12-5-2 record, earning its highest national ranking in program history—number two in the NCCA DII. Forward Romain Onteniente (sophomore; Nice, France) was named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and was selected to the Daktronics All-South Region Second Team. The NSU men’s and women’s cross country teams both earned regional rankings for the first time since competing in the NCAA. The men ranked as high as fifth place and the women eighth in the South Region. Eskender Abdalla (junior; Houston, Texas) had a break-out season and was voted as Sunshine State Conference Male Runner of the Year. The NSU women’s basketball team, posted its best-ever regular season record (24-6, 14-2 SSC), while capturing its first SSC Tournament Championship and receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA DII South Regional Tournament. Center Stephanie Sarosi (sophomore; Mims, Florida) was the SSC Player of the Year, averaging 18.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Head coach Marilyn Rule was named Russell Athletic Division II South Region Coach of the Year and SSC Coach of the Year. The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced that NSU men’s basketball guard/forward Tim Coenraad (junior, Brisbane, Australia) was named to the NABC Division II All-South Region first team. The honors continued to mount for Coenraad, as he was also named to the Second Team All-Sunshine State Conference, Daktronics All-South Region Second Team, and CoSIDA/ ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 3 second team. Coenraad led the Sharks with averages of 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The spring sports season began with high expectations for the Sharks. Ranked No. 9 in the South Region, the NSU softball team posted their best record since joining the NCAA in 2002. The Sharks compiled an impressive overall record of 43-20 (12-9 in Sunshine State Conference play). Softball outfielder Ashley Baker 34 horizons