Nada Meawad admitted she had a little bit of nerves at the prospect of announcing a draft pick in front of a national audience.
The Park University sophomore volleyball standout was chosen by the school to announce the Kansas City Chiefs’ fifth-round draft selection on Saturday, April 27.
That honor was part of a partnership agreement between the team and the Parkville school, but a trade by the Chiefs on Friday meant Meawad didn’t get to announce a pick — losing a chance for the NAIA national player of the year and national tournament most valuable player to appear on ESPN and the NFL Network.
“It happens. I’m fine,” said the Cairo, Egypt native when asked if she was bummed she didn’t get the opportunity.
It is a sport she is still learning, adjusting to being the United States for only two years. She and her twin sister, Noura, joined the team prior to the 2017 season.
“I know much more about football, back home, we don’t have football. I find it very interesting and it is really fun to play. It is different.”
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach traded a second round pick and a fifth-round pick — the one Meawad would announced — for the right to move up five spots and draft Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman.
Meawad and her volleyball teams were on hand on Saturday for the Chiefs to take part in the team’s season ticket member draft fest — which was presented by Park.
She stood by the stage in case the Chiefs managed to trade back into fourth or fifth rounds. The Chiefs previously traded both picks.
“The girls had a blast, any chance we get to hang out together and represent the university is fun for us,” Park volleyball coach Mike Talamantes said.
Fans had a chance to mingle among former and current players, while taking part in cornhole, a field goal kicking contest, tour the locker room and see the stadium’s upper deck renovations first hand. All of the chairs in the upper deck were removed following this past season and will be replaced prior the start of the 2019 season. The team had two chairs on the 30-yard line that will be identical to the ones being installed.
About every location you turned, the Park logo was next to the Chiefs draft fest logo.
Also during the festivities, the Chiefs announced that former player Brian Waters would be the latest inductee into the Ring of Honor during the upcoming season.