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