Erie, Pa. - Rowan Spracklen, son of Mercyhurst Head Rowing Coach Adrian Spracklen, is a finalist in the Babytalk/"GMA" Cover Contest, as announced live today on “Good Morning America,” ABC's popular morning television show. Voting is currently open on the Internet.

In January, Adrian Spracklen and his wife, Mia, adopted Rowan from Ethiopia, where the child was malnourished and living in an orphanage. He is now a healthy 14-month-old, one of just three finalists out of over 50,000 children entered in the contest. The winner of the contest will appear on the cover of Babytalk Magazine and receive a $1,000 gift certificate to the Children's Place store. An Internet vote is being held through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7.

Coach Spracklen has been a valuable member of the Mercyhurst family, having served as head rowing coach since 1998, and graduateing from the college in 1990. His teams have regularly competed at the national level, including an NCAA Division II national championship for the women's program in 2004. Adrian and Mia have three daughters as well, ages six through 10.

For more information, and to vote for Rowan Spracklen, please visit the Good Morning America website at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8452757.

This story has been covered by the Erie Times-News. The stories about the contest can be accessed at goerie.com.