FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 42nd moment on the list: Women's swimmer Erin Black wins the program's first ever NCAA Division II national title.
March 16, 2012
Junior Erin Black had already had a banner season prior to the team making the trip to Mansfield, Texas, for the 2012 NCAA Championships. She was the top individual point scorer as the Sharks won their first Sunshine State Conference title, winning the 500 freestyle with a meet-record time. Twice during the regular season, Black was named Consilman Hunsaker National Swimmer of the Week, and twice she was also SSC Swimmer of the Week. But she saved her best for the next-to-last day at the championships.
Black had earned the third-best preliminary time in the women's 500 freestyle at 4:55.38, but she blew past the field in the evening's championship final, claiming the individual national title. She cut nearly six seconds off her earlier run finishing with a time of 4:49.86, which was also a personal best time and a new school record.
"Going into tonight, our goal for Erin was to stay relaxed and swim her race in under 4:50," said head coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron that evening. "She stayed focused throughout the entire race and accomplished those goals and the end result was her winning the individual title. Her accomplishment is simply a testament to her hard work and commitment she has demonstrated throughout the entire season."
For her efforts, Black earned All-American status in this and three other events, as well as being named Honorable Mention All-America for two more. She was later named 2011-12 SSC Female Swimmer of the Year and First-Team All-SSC.
Check back with NSUSharks.com next Tuesday for the next #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History."
Moment No. 1: NSU Athletics is Born
Moment No. 2: Knights Chosen as School Mascot
Moment No. 3: Hansley Hired as Director of Athletics
Moment No. 4: Nova Adds Four Sports
Moment No. 5: Nova Joins NAIA
Moment No. 6: Nova Adds Three More Teams
Moment No. 7: Nova Helps Form FIAC
Moment No. 8: Nova Wins First Conference Championship
Moment No. 9: Baseball and Volleyball Win First Conference Titles
Moment No. 10: NSU Adds Softball
Moment No. 11: NSU Adds Women's Soccer and Wins FSC Tournament Championship
Moment No. 12: NSU Names Ray Ferrero Jr. as School's Fifth President
Moment No. 13: NSU Adds Women's Basketball and Wins Conference Title in First Season
Moment No. 14: NSU Jumps to NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference
Moment No. 15: Kyle Ruwe Becomes NSU's First NCAA All-American
Moment No. 16: NSU adds Rowing, Tennis and Men's Cross Country
Moment No. 17: NSU Breaks Ground on University Center
Moment No. 18: Rembe Becomes NSU's First Female NCAA All-American
Moment No. 19: NSU Men's Golf Wins First SSC Championship
Moment No. 20: NSU Unveils Sharks as New Mascot
Moment No. 21: NSU Enshrines Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
Moment No. 22: Women's Golfer Garcia Austt Becomes NSU's First-Ever NCAA Player and Freshman of Year
Moment No. 23: NSU Tennis Goes Program-Best 22-3
Moment No. 24: NSU Volleyball Hosts the Inaugural Sharks Classic
Moment No. 25: NSU Begins Outdoor Track and Field Programs
Moment No. 26: NSU Volleyball Earns First-Ever NCAA Postseason Bid
Moment No. 27: NSU Women's Basketball Wins First SSC Championship
Moment No. 28: NSU Wins Women's Division of 2007-08 SSC Mayors' Cup
Moment No. 29: Abdalla Earns Cross Country Program's First SSC Runner of the Year Award
Moment No. 30: NSU Volleyball Wins South Region and Advances to Elite Eight
Moment No. 31: NSU Launches Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Programs
Moment No. 32: NSU Rowing V4 Claims the School's First Individual DII National Championship
Moment No. 33: NSU Brings Home First NCAA National Championship in Women's Golf
Moment No. 34: NSU Baseball Has Four Players Chosen in MLB Draft
Moment No. 35: Mominey Steps Into Full-Time Role as NSU Director of Athletics
Moment No. 36: The NSU Women's Golf Team Goes Back-to-Back
Moment No. 37: Men's Cross Country Qualifies for NCAA Division II National Championship for First Time
Moment No. 38: The Fledgling Men's and Women's Swimming Teams Have Successful First Season
Moment No. 39: Women's Golf Wins Third Straight NCAA National Championship
Moment No. 40: Berger and Freshman Eight Boat Win SSC and National Sportsmanship Award
Moment No. 41: NSU Athletics Receives the NCAA Division II Community Engagement Award
