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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
More Than 350 Special Olympics Athletes from 5 Florida Counties Compete & Bond at Area Basketball Tournament
In a heartwarming display of team support, NSU’s Men’s Basketball Team also came out to root for one of their own – team manager David Chaviano
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| NSU’s men’s basketball team manager David Chaviano, who is also a Special Olympics athlete on Broward’s Nova Sharks team, runs the court to steal the ball from a member of the Palm Beach Shooters. |
FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – Despite the unusually chilly South Florida weather, tons of fans came out to cheer and warm the hearts of more than 350 Special Olympics athletes during a recent area basketball tournament. The Jan. 10 competition was hosted by Special Olympics Broward County (SOBC) at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Don Taft University Center.
Athletes from Broward, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Martin and Indian River Counties participated in this exciting tournament, for a chance to advance to the state and national levels. Athletes competed in individual basketball skills, team skills, 3-on-3 teams, traditional teams and unified teams. They also bonded over their shared love of the sport.
Opening ceremonies begin with a parade of athletes, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. The “Flame of Hope” scepter was symbolically displayed, while all participating athletes took the following oath: “Let me win. If I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
NSU’s men’s basketball team also came to the tournament to support one of their own – Team Manager David Chaviano, 25, of Pembroke Pines, who is also a Special Olympics athlete on Broward’s Nova Sharks team.
The NSU Division II team played a game of their own just 12 hours earlier, defeating Eckerd College of St. Petersburg, but the team and coaches said they wouldn’t have missed seeing Chaviano play for anything – “They would have stayed up all night to see this,” said NSU’s head basketball coach Gary Tuell.
Although the Palm Beach Shooters defeated Chaviano’s team 19-35, he and all of the Special Olympics athletes who played in the tournament got plenty of love from their cheering fans.
The day-long basketball tournament was the first major athletic event held at the group’s new NSU home. The partnership between SOBC and NSU came about as part of a generous gift Don Taft and the Taft Foundation made to NSU in 2009. In recognition of Taft’s contribution, the 366,000 square-foot Don Taft University Center was named in his honor. The gift also provided SOBC with a permanent home at NSU.
NSU is the first and only university to house a chapter of Special Olympics. In addition to providing the group with a permanent office space, the athletes also have access to all of NSU’s sports facilities. SOBC moved into its new office space this fall, located in the Sonken East/Annex building on the main campus.
For more information, please call (954) 262-2150.
Media Contact:
Andra Liwag, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309 (office), 954-873-8494 (cell), andrali@nova.edu