ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's and women's rowing teams were presented with their 2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Championship trophies on Wednesday night during halftime of the men's basketball game against cross-town rival Gannon University.

Presenting the trophies to the teams was Toby Wallace, the Senior Relationship Manager of Endowments & Foundations at Aberdeen Asset Management PLC. Accepting the trophies were Mercyhurst College President, Dr. Thomas Gamble, Mercyhurst Director of Athletics Joe Kimball, head coach Adrian Spracklen, and assistant coach Jamie Francis.

The men's varsity lightweight eight won the championship for second consecutive season in 2011. Mercyhurst finished with a time of 6:06, ahead of second-place Delaware (6:09) and third-place Michigan (6:11). At the presentation on Wednesday were members of last year's boat - Zack Pappas, Jake Schuppe, Marcin Osajda, Xavier Alexander, Ivan Palikuca, and Jeffrey Thiede.

Meanwhile, the women's varsity eight won the title for the third straight year, finishing with a time of 7:00.15. The Lakers placed ahead of Seattle Pacific (7:02.65) and Nova Southeastern (7:02.85) to win the championship. Members from last year's squad that were in attendance on Wednesday night included Rebecca Herron, Arden Gill, Amanda Primett, Jordan Herbert, Bethany Brun, Jessica Olson, Amanda Carlyon, and Lindsey Crosby.

The women's rowing team will begin the 2012 season on March 25 at the East Regional Sprints in Charleston, West Virginia. The men's team, meanwhile, does not begin the season until April 6.