FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 32nd moment on the list: The Nova Southeastern University rowing Varsity 4 claims the school's first-ever individual NCAA Division II national championship.
May 31, 2009
The rowing program's sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships saw the Sharks break through with their first-ever national title at Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
"It was a great day," said then-head coach John Gartin at the time. "The Varsity 8 had a solid race and one of their best of the season. The Varsity 4 finally broke through that glass ceiling. In the past, they had been looking up towards (five-time champion) Western Washington. This year, to finally break through and walk away with some hardware, is a big step forward."
The boat, comprised of coxswain Heather Clayton, Lauren McElhenny, Claire Kurlychek, Ashley Lofria and Jessica Sutter, crossed the finish line in a race-winning time of 7:53.04, defeating runner-up Western Washington by more than four minutes (7:57.34).
The Sharks took charge from early on in the race, having almost a full boat's length on Western Washington and Mercyhurst through the first 500 meters. The boat held a two-second lead at the 1,000-meter mark, but opened it up in the final half of the race.
"There were so many firsts this year," said Gartin. "They climbed so many mountains and this was the biggest one for them to climb. It is so exciting. It's a trophy that they proudly get to have."
The V4 win capped off a successful overall season for the program. The Sharks claimed their third consecutive Sunshine State Conference Championship as well as their first ever FIRA Women's Championship. Meanwhile, the Varsity 8 was tabbed SSC Boat of the Week for four straight weeks during the season.
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. 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
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