ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst College women’s rowing head coach
Adrian Spracklen has been named the 2010 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year.
In his 18th year at the helm of the women’s program, Spracklen guided his 2010 edition to a gold-medal finish in the varsity eight over perennial powerhouse Western Washington at the NCAA Championships.
The Lakers closed out the 2010 season having won gold in five out of six races entered. In addition to the victory at the national regatta, Mercyhurst also posted victories at the Dad Vail Regatta, NCAA East Regional, SIRA and the Knecht Cup.
The Lakers’ victory over Western Washington marked the first time that WWU had 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.
With Spracklen’s award, this marks the third individual honor for the Lakers in 2010 as
Amanda Carlyon was named a CRCA Division II Pocock All-American and
Bethany Brun captured the NCAA Elite 88 Award, an accolade bestowed upon the student-athlete with the highest grade point average at an NCAA Championship event.