MURFREESBORO, N.C. – Throughout the 2025-2026 Chowan Athletic season, the Chowan Athletic Department will feature the Ace Hardware Student-Athletes of the Week.
 
For the week of October 8 – October 16, Vanja Romic of the women's swimming team and Robert Cabrera of the men's swimming team, have been recognized for their standout performances over the past week of competition.
 
Vanja Romic | Freshman | Women's Swimming | Subotica, Serbia
Romic delivered an impressive performance in Chowan's first swim meet of the season against Virginia Wesleyan, earning first-place finishes in all of her individual events. She claimed victory in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 57.82 and the 100-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 1:11.67. Romic also contributed to strong relay finishes, swimming the second leg of the 200-yard medley relay that placed second with a time of 2:01.71, and anchoring the 200-yard freestyle relay, which also earned a second-place finish at 1:50.10.  

Robert Cabrera | Senior | Men's Swimming |  Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Cabrera opened up the 2025-26 swim season in a big way, securing victories in all four events he competed in to help boost the Hawks overall team score against Virginia Wesleyan. He earned a first place win in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.14 and the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 57.21. Cabrera also played a key role in both relay events—leading off the 200-yard medley relay that finished with a time of 1:40.43 and anchoring the 200-yard freestyle relay, which posted a time of 1:30.31.  

Ace Hardware Student-Athletes of the Week
Sept. 4 –  Maurice Smith (FB) | Isaiah Fulton (FB)
Sept. 18 – Riley Donnelly (WSOC) | Jeevan Purewal & Cameron Letterlough (MSOC)
Sept. 25 – Diana Rodriguez (VB) | Laura Hulme (WSOC)
Oct. 2 – Malique Frazier (FB) | Demarcus Carroll (FB)
Oct. 9 – Diana Rodriguez (VB) | Kylee Smith (WSOC)
Oct. 16 – Vanja Romic (WSWIM) | Robert Cabrera (MSWIM)