FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have released its 2012-13 schedule. The Sharks will start off their season away at The University of Florida for the All-Florida Invitational against Florida’s elite teams Sept. 28-30. The Sharks will host their first home meet on Oct.20 at 12:00 p.m. against conference foe, Saint Leo.
 
NSU finished last season with both and Men’s and Women’s SSC Championship titles, they totaled 22 First-Team All-America awards and 35 Honorable Mention All-America honors. Junior Erin Black (Sr., Ft.Myers, Fla.) was the first female in the program’s history to win an individual national title in the 500-yard freestyle.
 
“Our opponents help us compete at a higher level, which allows our athletes to better prepare for the conference and NCAA championship meets," said head coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron.
 
In the month of the November, the Sharks will be on the road. The Sharks will start their journey by traveling to Winter Park, Fla. to compete against conference rival, Rollins. Last year at this meet, the Sharks dominated on both the men’s and women’s side. The following weekend, NSU will compete in a tri- meet at Indian River College in Ft. Pierce,Fla. They will swim against the very talented Indian River squad and Lynn.
 
To kick off the first day in December, NSU will compete in Tampa, Fla. against rivals Tampa. Tampa has continually challenged the Sharks at this point in the season. Last year, the men’s team took down the Spartans, 140-65, while the women’s team upset the Spartans, 108.5-96.5. This meet will provide a great opportunity to swim the team before gearing up for the NSU Invitational.
 
The third annual Shark Classic Invitational will take place Dec. 14-17. The Shark Classic includes some of the SSC’s finest competition. Teams that have participated in the past Shark Classic are: Tampa, Rollins, and Florida Southern, Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne and Converse. Last year, Black was honored with the Michael D. Fish Outstanding Performer award. She will look to defend her Outstanding Performer award title against a steep group of competition. Both teams placed second at the Classic, and will look to challenge themselves and be victorious at this event.
 
 
After winter break, the Sharks will head back to the NSU Aquatic Center on Jan. 2, to take on Grand Valley State at 3 p.m. Last year, the Sharks had a close meet but fell short to Grand Valley State. They will be looking to avenge their loss from the previous year.
 
On Jan.12, NSU will be back on the road and heading to Boca Raton, Fla. to compete in a tri- meet against NCAA Division -I teams Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky. Last year, both teams fell to FAU and WKU, so the Sharks will be looking to challenge them in 2013.
 
The following weekend, Jan. 19, NSU will compete in their last conference meet against Florida Southern at the NSU Aquatic Complex at 12 p.m. This will be the last dual meet of the season before they head to the SSC Championships in Clearwater, Fla. The competition will take place on Feb.13-16. Both teams will look to have repeat victories at the conference championship.
 
The NSU men’s and women’s team received top honors from the SSC, as Black was named Swimmer of the Year and 12 others were selected to All-SSC teams.

The final opportunity for the Sharks to compete will be at the NCAA Division II Championships in Birmingham,Ala. beginning Mar. 6-9.  Last year, the Sharks sent a combined total of 19 swimmers to the meet. The men’s team finished 10^th overall with 227 points, while the women’s team was 14th with 113.5 points. The Sharks look to improve upon their results on D-II nationals this season.

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