Feb. 5, 2008

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst rowing team will be holding an intersquad wrestling exhibition Monday, Feb. 11 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center at 8:30 p.m. All are invited to attend this event.

The women's rowing team is nearing the end of its winter training session in which the team takes part in traditional rowing training such as ergometers, running, and weight training. In addition, the team has been utilizing wrestling as cross-training and an exploration of mental training. The squad learns a physical wrestling skill each Monday morning and the team then discusses the mental goal and how to apply it to rowing. Wrestling a 7' match is similar in many ways to a 7' (200-meter) boat race: a full-body workout that demands mental toughness, balance, coordination, stamina, assertiveness, determination, discipline, intensity, passion and perseverance.

"I've learned things from takedowns to how to pin," All-American coxswain junior Michele Handzel said. "I know what a half-nelson is and when to use it. I can use my body weight judiciously and I've developed more confidence in myself and my teammates. We use wrestling to train ourselves mentally because you can't go light for even a split second or you end up on your back. Our mental endurance grows by pushing through the pain of physical contact and struggling against someone else.

"A coxswain has to make efficient decisions throughout the race," Handzel said. "Just like in the wrestling room. I will use the mental training from wrestling to get more out of the rowers and myself this spring because we take on the challenges and give our best at everything."