ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst College women’s rowers
Michele Handzel and
Leah Niecgorski each have been named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association 2009 Pocock All-America Team. The award recognizes the outstanding performances of rowers and coxswains at NCAA Division II institutions.
A senior coxswain from Baldwinsville, N.Y., this is Handzel’s second honor by the CRCA while junior Niecgorski earns her first citation.
The two have been an integral part of the Lakers success this season in which the varsity eight has been ranked first in the country for a majority of the spring schedule.
Now, the two will guide Mercyhurst at the 2009 NCAA Rowing Championship on Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J where the Lakers look to capture their first team title since 2004.
The Lakers will compete in the first round of competition on Friday, May 29 at 11 a.m. with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship final at 9:15 a.m.
2009 CRCA Division II Pocock All-America Team
AUDREY COON WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
CINDY FONG NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
RACHEL GARBAJ NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
MICHELE HANDZEL MERCYHURST COLLEGE
JENNIFER JOHNSON FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
LEAH NIECORGORSKI MERCYHURST COLLEGE
JILLIAN PEACOCK UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
KRISTY THEODORSON WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
PAULINA WOJCIECHOWSKA DOWLING COLLEGE
MONIKA ZDROJEWSKA DOWLING COLLEGE