Men’s Basketball Title Follows Women’s Swimming Crown
In 2021-22 basketball season, the Sharks men’s team enjoyed an undefeated season and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight before losing. But this year, the Sharks outdid themselves, going 36-0 enroute to capturing the NCAA Division II Men’s National Championship!
The 111-101 victory over West Liberty University on Saturday, March 25, 2023, also resulted in NSU breaking the Division II record for points in the national championship game.
“It’s been a storybook season and perfect ending. To play in the National Championship against West Liberty – where I got my start – is special,” said Head Coach Jim Crutchfield, who was named National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Coach of the Year. “This game had a lot of intensity and a lot of emotions, but I’m proud of our team and thrilled to bring a national title back to Nova Southeastern University.”
NSU forward RJ Sunahara was named the NABC Division II Player of the Year.
The Men’s Basketball Team joined NSU’s Women’s Swimming Team, which also won an NCAA Division II National Championship.
The swimming Sharks, led by Head Coach Ben Hewitt, went wire-to-wire during their title run and led from the championship meet’s first event on Tuesday, March 7. No. 1 Nova Southeastern ended the NCAA National Championship meet with 536.5 points and Emily Trieschmann’s dominant performance led NSU to the title, as the sophomore won six national titles in the 1000-freestyle, 200-freestyle, 500-freestyle, 1650-freestyle, and was a part of both the 200- and 800-freestyle relay teams.
Head Coach Ben Hewitt earned the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Coach of the Year honors, while Emily Trieschmann was recognized as the CSCAA Swimmer of the Year.
Overall, the No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks women’s swimming team earned 11 NCAA individual national championships enroute to the program’s first team title.
“It’s an honor to be the head coach of this program,” Hewitt said. “I am extremely proud of this team. These ladies performed at a level not previously seen in a Championship meet of this caliber. They performed at their best, against the best, and there isn’t much more a Coach can ask for from a team.”
Posted 03/28/23