SACRAMENTO, Calif. --Their first win over rival and five-time defending national champion Western Washington couldn't have come at a better time for the members of the Mercyhurst College women's varsity eight. 

At the 2010 NCAA Rowing National Championships, the Lakers used a strong start to build a two-second lead over the Vikings through the first 1000 meters then held off a surging WWU unit to cross the line in 6:42.53 to capture the varsity eight crown. The Vikings took silver (6:44.92) while Barry claimed bronze (6:51.76) and Seattle Pacific (6:53.04) rounded out the Grand Final participants. 

“It was a quite a race,” said head coach Adrian Spracklen. “It was what you would consider a textbook race. We had a very hard race plan and they executed it absolutely flawlessly. It was a testament to them for sure.” 

Mercyhurst, ranked second in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll, held a 1.5 second edge on the Vikings through the first 500 meters before stretching its lead to almost three seconds at the halfway point. 

In the third 500 meters, WWU had closed the gap to pull within almost two seconds of the Lakers but Mercyhurst was able to hang on in the final stretch for the upset. 

“I didn't expect to be up from the start, which shocked me,” said Spracklen. “The second 500 for us, we couldn't have a drop off in speed. Then, in the third 500 the focus was to not have a drop off in speed. When we got the early lead I was worried that we got nervous and left everything in the beginning. The last 500we had never been in a sprint situation but I really did not know what would happen. “ 

The Lakers' victory marked the first time that perennial power WWU has lost to a Division II opponent since the final of the 2004 when Mercyhurst won its first and only team title. Adding to the Lakers' impressive victory is the fact that WWU has won 21 of 24 races at the last six national championships, with the only exceptions being this year's second-place finish by the eight and the four a year ago, taking third in qualifying and second in the final. 

“Today was great. It was the perfect race,” said senior Leah Niecgorski. “We rowed the final 500 and we could hear the crowd going nuts. They (WWU) started their sprint sequence and then we started our sprint sequence. I just did 15 of the most powerful strokes I could have ever done. I heard the horn and looked at them and saw that they were still behind us and then I just started crying.” 

The Lakers close out the 2010 season having won gold in five out of six races entered. With the victory at the national regatta, Mercyhurst has also posted victories at the Dad Vail Regatta, NCAA East Regional, SIRA and the Knecht Cup. 

“It hasn't even set in yet,” said Niecgorski. “Last year we got so nervous and that was our downfall . This year we just said we have nothing to lose. We got up to the start up and we just sat there getting focused on doing our own race. It was just about staying relaxed and sticking with our game plan. When we finished first, Barry and Seattle Pacific were cheering for us. Barry even gave us hugs.” 

Notes:
Seated in the Lakers' eight shell was coxswain Lindsey Crosby, Amanda Carlyon at stroke, Niecgorski at No. 7, Bethany Brun at No. 6, Rachel Beste at No. 5, Sally O'Briend at No. 4, Alicia Peterson at No. 3, Alexandra Salen at No. 2 and Annie Schiller at bow. 

Mercyhurst competed as an at-large varsity eight representative and is ineligible for the team title.  

Western Washington finished first in the varsity four and second in the varsity eight, giving the Vikings their sixth-consecutive team title.