FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 16th moment on the list: Nova Southeastern adds three sports in rowing, tennis and men's cross country.  
"After much discussion internally and in collaborated discussions with the Sunshine State Conference, we decided to add the sports of women's crew, women's cross country and reestablish women's tennis, a team we had sponsored in the early years of athletics at NSU," said Director of Athletics Michael Mominey. "Women's sports were definitely the priority, and given the fact that we were and are very disproportionate in terms of our undergraduate population, we wanted to be sure we were in compliance with Title IX."
 
After NSU completed its first full year of competition in the NCAA, the school expanded its athletic program and closer resembles the current makeup of the Sharks' program. In the fall of 2003, the Sharks began competition in the three new sports. Women's cross country coach Bruce McCrea took over the reins of the new men's program, while Mominey brought in new staff members Dr. Michael Coleman for tennis and John Gartin for rowing.

"The goals were fairly similar with all three programs in that we had a four year plan to recruit student-athletes, fund scholarships to the NCAA limits and be competitive in the conference and in the region, all within this four year period," stated Mominey. "It was a fun time "birthing" these sports even though we had some growing pains getting them off the ground. Such things as access to facilities, hiring coaches and scheduling, provided many challenges early on, but today I can definitely say it was all worth it and it has provided tremendous opportunities for student-athletes that otherwise would have not been at Nova Southeastern University."
 
The decision to add the three sports has paid huge dividends for NSU. The men's cross country team may have had the biggest challenge, joining the Sunshine State Conference where Florida Southern and Tampa had dominated for over a decade. It took years for the Knights/Sharks to break through, but in 2007, Eskinder Abdalla would be named the league's top runner. Five years later, NSU powered through the old guard and won its first men's cross country SSC Championship.
 
The tennis team found success earlier and became a contender in the nation's toughest tennis region. Four years into competition, coach Coleman and All-Americans Alexa Korotkevich and Ulia Talalenko led the team to its first NCAA postseason appearance. The Sharks had their breakout year in 2007, going 22-3 and finishing the year ranked 10th in the nation.
 
Of the three, none hit the ground running as fast as the NSU rowing team. In its first year of competition, the Knights set a precedent for what would become one of the most successful teams on NSU's campus. On Oct. 25, 2003, NSU's 18-athlete team, many of which were recruited while playing other sports, won the First Coast Head Race in the program's first-ever competition.
 
The success didn't stop there, as NSU became one of six teams in the nation invited to compete in the NCAA National Championship. There, NSU would defeat South Region powerhouse Barry in the varsity-8 petite final. The members of the first V8 boat were coxswain Cheyenne Poskey, Jennifer Moos, Stephanie Blair, Kelly Harding, Ashley Amrich, Victoria Corbyons, Jennifer Rembe, Nicki Felluca and Katrena Bonilla.
 
"Going to nationals in the first year of the program was very, very special," said NSU coach John Gartin after the season to the Sun Sentinel. "That final race also gave us the stepping stone we need for next year: ending on a good note. But we know that we need to work very hard to get into the top three or four teams. It has been an amazing year."
 
Eventually NSU would break into the top three or four teams. Today, NSU has six SSC titles, more than any other team on campus, and holds the 2013 NCAA National Championship. In 2014, NSU has ranked No. 1 in the nation all season long and will shoot for another national title this month. 

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

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