Nova Southeastern University Athletics

AS A SOPHOMORE (2019-20)
Named to the Spring SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll…Rowed with both boats in the fall, focusing her efforts on the eights in spring races against Barry and Florida Tech…In the fall, raced as part of the Sharks’ A boat during the Head of the Indian Creek Varsity 8 Collegiate Championship, finishing fourth at 15:11.50 on the 4,000m course, also joining the B Boat for an eighth-place finish in 17:30.51 during the Varsity 4 Collegiate Championship…Sophomore season cut short with events canceled nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AS A FRESHMAN (2018-19)
Raced as part of three boats at Sarasota’s Nathan Benderson Park during the FIRA Championships, helping the Sharks’ varsity eight fifth place in a tightly-contested finish, crossing the line at 7:05.48…In addition at FIRA, finished fourth in the freshman/novice eight at 7:46.27 and joined the junior varsity eight in delivering fourth-place finishes in both races on times of 7:37.82 and 7:46.27…Defeated Embry-Riddle to win the varsity eight B Final in 7:15.868 at the SIRA Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn…Rowed a fourth-place finish in the varsity eight at the Sunshine State Conference Championships, crossing the line in 6:57.30, helping the Sharks to a third-place team finish…Closed out the season with a sixth-place varsity eight finish in the Grand Final at the Jefferson Dad Vail in 6:52.237.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Saint Michael Catholic High School in Niagra Falls, Ontario…Rowed four years under coach Dianne Etzl, contributing to four first-place finishes in the CSSRA (Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association), SNRC Invitational, Mother's Day and Early Bird regattas…Finished third in the Stotesbury Cup in the high school senior women’s double, as well as  third at CSSRA in senior high school women’s pair, fifth in high school senior women’s double and third at the Mother’s Day Regatta in senior women’s pair…Rowing for Anthony Arcurri and the Niagra Falls Rowing Club, placed ninth in the youth women's single at the 2017 Head of the Charles and 10th at the 2017 C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints in Junior Women’s Lightweight, earning Club Athlete of the Year – while also Head Coach of the club's Youth Rowing Program…Also earned gold medals at the Head of the Genesee and CORA Championships in 2016 and 2017…Was an Honor Roll student and named Rowing Female Athlete of the Year at Saint Michael's.

PERSONAL
Hails from Niagra Falls, Ontario…Majoring in Exercise and Sport Science…Daughter of Wernher and Josephine Verbraeken…Fan of the Toronto Blue Jays…Most memorable athletic achievement was the once in a lifetime experience of rowing a single at the Head of the Charles…Active in community service, she helped build a boathouse and volunteered at the Niagra Outreach Soup Kitchen, Terry Fox Run and STM Annual Pasta Dinner….About NSU, she likes the small class sizes, the positive and open school environment, the helpful professors and resources and all of the different clubs, organizations and teams you can be a part of…Notes her father at the most influential person in her life, because he’s motivated her to always give her all, both at school and at rowing, teaching her over the years to never lose hope or give up on her dreams, and that results will come from continuous hard work and dedication.