FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With the 2011-12 athletic season coming to a close, the Nova Southeastern athletic department held its 2012 NSU Athletics Banquet Wednesday at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center. The evening honored the best and brightest student-athletes at NSU.

Following the welcome from master of ceremonies Dr. Mark Cavanaugh, the invocation from women’s basketball’s Jessica Walters and dinner, the athletes and guests in attendance viewed season recap videos before the team MVP’s, Coach’s Award winners, and seniors were honored from each of NSU’s 17 athletic programs.

After each program was recognized, seniors Jada Buckner (Loudon, Tenn.) and Scott Woodrey (Lighthouse Point, Fla.), of the women’s basketball and baseball teams, respectively, were honored with the 2012 sportsmanship awards.

The athletic department went on to honor its Athletes of the Year from the 2011-12 season. On the women’s side, NCAA National Championship winner Erin Black (Jr., Fort Myers, Fla.) of the women’s swimming and diving team was honored. On the men’s side, NSU centerfielder Areo Regoli (Sr., Homestead, Fla.) was honored as the male MVP.

The next award presented was the Joing Athletes/Academics With Success (JAAWS) award for the NSU team with the highest GPA for the fall semester. With a whopping GPA of 3.51, the women’s basketball team, led by first-year head coach Leann Freeland, received the award.

Finally, the male and female Scholar Athletes of the Year award winners were honored. With a perfect 4.0 GPA, tennis’ Dominique Wimmer (Sr., Guntramsdorf, Austria) brought home the hardware on the women’s side. The night ended with a twist, as a tie was announced for the men’s side. Seniors Robert Huntington (Perth, Australia) of the men’s basketball team and Ben Vertz (Coral Springs, Fla.) of the men’s golf team split the honor.


Below is the complete list of award winners:

2011-12 Athletic Banquet Award Winners

Women’s Cross Country
Most Valuable – Alexandria Palm
Coach's Award – Brandi Nichols

Men’s Cross Country
Most Valuable – Kevin Meagher
Coach's Award – Omar Hernandez

Volleyball
Most Valuable- Danielle Graham
Coach's Award- Paige Boivin

Women's Soccer
Most Valuable- Rachael Reid
Coach's Award- Malin Broberg

Men's Soccer
Most Valuable- Juan Rivera
Coach's Award- Nathan Cox

Women's Basketball
Most Valuable- Meixandra Porter
Coach's Award- Richelle Carach

Men's Basketball
Most Valuable- Robert Huntington
Coach's Award- Teddy Tassy

Cheerleading
Most Valuable- Kerry Keefe
Coach's Award- Sapphire Aragon

Women’s Swimming
Most Valuable – Erin Black
Coach's Award – Kelsea Smith

Men’s Swimming
Most Valuable – Armin Hornikel
Coach's Award – Jared Fish

Men's Golf
Most Valuable- Benjamin Taylor
Coach's Award- Ricardo Celia

Women's Golf
Most Valuable- Abbey Gittings 
Coach's Award- Claudia Wolf

Rowing
Most Valuable- Lauren Boudreau
Coach's Award- Victoria Ciccone

Women’s Track and Field
Most Valuable– Jessica Osteen
Coach's Award– Thelmarcia Williams

Men’s Track and Field
Most Valuable– Robert Moise
Coach's Award– Matt Seese

Tennis
Most Valuable- Alexandra Johansson
Coach's Award- Dominique Wimmer

Softball
Most Valuable- Sara DeMuth
Coach's Award- Melanie Spicola

Baseball
Most Valuable- Areo Regoli
Coach's Award- Sean Tighe

Male Scholar Athletes of the Year
Robert Huntington, Men's Basketball
Ben Vertz, Men's Golf

Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Dominique Wimmer, Women’s Tennis

NSU Sportsmanship Award
Male- Scott Woodrey, Baseball
Female- Jada Buckner, Women’s Basketball

Female Athlete of the Year
Erin Black, Women’s Swimming and Diving

Male Athlete of the Year
Areo Regoli, Baseball

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