The summer of 2014 was definitely the season of the Sharks. From winning games to winning awards, NSU’s student-athletes came out on top.
One graduate was applauded for sportsmanship
Along with graduating from NSU with a degree in exercise and sports science, Esau Simpson was the male recipient of the 2014 Sunshine State Conference Sportsmanship Award.
Former NSU baseball players left their legacies
J.D. Martinez has lead Major League Baseball in average, home runs, hits, RBI, slugging, and OPS; the Boston Red Sox promoted Carlos Asuaje to Advanced-A Salem; Miles Mikolas was called up to the Texas Rangers twice this year after spending most of his time with the Round Rock Express, the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, and has struck out a former World Series MVP and an American League MVP; Nick Avila started his scouting career with the Detroit Tigers; and Brett Clements is playing for the Greeneville Astros, the Houston Astros rookie-ball affiliate.
Sharks swam their way to winning awards
Eleven athletes from the men’s and women’s swim teams won the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Spring 2014 Individual Scholar All-America award in June. Florian Mehlan, recently graduated with an environmental science degree, and Shane Kleinbeck, senior sport and recreation management major, were named to the NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar All-America list. Addison Cates, senior secondary language major, John Hayes, senior sport and recreation management major, and Jim Shelley, recently graduated computer information systems major, were named to the NCAA Division II Men’s Honorable Mention Scholar All-America list. Recently graduated marketing majors Sara Akoubian and Sammy Akoubian, along with Kathleen Bowman, junior business administration major, Brooke Munion, sophomore marine biology major, Arianna Sunyak, senior environmental science major, and Alexandra Zatylny, recently graduated biology and marine biology major, were named to the NCAA Division II Women’s Honorable Mention Scholar All-America list.
Three rowers became All-Americans
The Collegiate Rowing Association chose three women’s rowers to be first-time All-Americans. Megan O’Donnell, senior exercise and sports science major and recent criminal justice graduate Courtney Berger were named to the first team and Emily Harrington, recent graduate in exercise and sports science, received second-team honors.
Sharks excelled on the field and in the classroom
To recognize student-athletes who earned a GPA of 3.2 or higher, the Athletic Department placed 91 athletes on the 2014 Sunshine State Conference Spring Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
One shark scored baskets and good grades
Basketball player Justin Jeangerard, senior business administration major, was named to the National Association of Basketball Coach’s Honors Court for his academic excellence.
Golfers were recognized as All-American Scholars
Rachel Lewis, who recently graduated with a psychology degree, former student Alejandra Velasco, and Katrina Wang, sophomore art major, were recognized as NCAA All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.
