After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nova Southeastern University women’s rowing team is back and ready to compete for the 2024 season. The Sharks will kick off the season with a regatta against Stetson University in Deland, Fla. on March 16.
Before the program was reinstated in September 2023, it had amassed an impressive resume, including six Sunshine State Conference titles (2007 to 2009 and 2011 to 2014). Additionally, the team made appearances in 12 NCAA Division II Championships and produced 18 All-Americans and 65 Scholar All-Americans.
PHOTO BY DEVON DEATHERAGE NSU’s rowing team propels the boat forward while catching the water.
This season, the Sharks have a roster filled with new faces, alongside an experienced coaching staff led by head coach Kim Chavers, and assistant coach Emily Cumone.
“Our primary goal for the season is to gain valuable racing experience,” Chavers said. “With many of our athletes new to the sport, we’re focused on preparing them for the conference championships and executing races to the best of our ability.”
Prior to taking charge of the rowing program at NSU, Chavers served as the head coach at Michigan State University for three years. During her tenure at MSU, she led the Spartans to success in both competition and academics, with 166 All-BIG 10 academic award winners, 52 BIG 10 Distinguished Scholars, and 42 CRCA Scholar Athletes. Additionally, she previously held assistant coaching positions at Old Dominion University, Indiana University, and Stetson.
Chavers doesn’t take all the credit for NSU’s success; she shares the spotlight with Cumone, who also contributes to the team’s success.
“She’s done a good job of helping our new athletes navigate this experience and develop their technique and skills,” Chavers said.
Despite having several inexperienced players, the team is optimistic about having a successful season.
Yasmine Chiadmi, freshman from Morocco and finance major, shares her high expectations for the season.
“We’re definitely winning,” Chiadmi said. “My teammates and I have been working hard to improve our skills, and I’m very sure that we’re going to do a great job in our next regatta.”
Chiadmi expressed admiration and trust for Coach Chavers.
“We trust each other because, when rowing you have to trust your teammates and coaches,” Chaidmi said.
Alongside Chiadmi is Sophia Florez, a sophomore from Colombia. Majoring in business health with a minor in global engagement, Florez is new to rowing but no stranger to competitive sports. She was attracted to rowing as a way to continue her athletic career.
“I’ve always been a team player and once I got to college I was like, why not try the ultimate team sport, and that’s how I got into rowing by wanting to continue my sports career,” Florez said.
Florez, expressed her pride and aims to revive the rowing program’s former success.
“Being part of the rowing team means joining something larger, becoming part of a family, I want to build rowing back to what it used to be,” Florez said.
After the season opener, the Sharks will travel to Melbourne, Fla. on March 23, to compete against Florida Tech and Embry-Riddle.
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