March 11, 2008

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst rowing team has announced that Melanie Peters, Kurtis Boyd and Tony Dorchak have been named captains for the spring 2008 season. Michele Handzel and Miles Schwartz were named assistant captains. The captains were selected by their teammates and approved of by the coaching staff.

Peters was named the women's captain and is a model of consistency and hard work. She is the only remaining member of the 2005 NCAA Championship runner-up team.

"I maintain motivation by setting higher standards both as an individual and as a team," Peters said. "I try to recognize challenges and the necessary steps to overcome them one at a time."

Varsity coxswain Handzel will assist Peters. She is the only returning All-American on the squad and has the ability to push her teammates. As someone who has experience facing both directions in the boat, Handzel has the experience to inspire her teammates.

"In order to inspire my teammates, I think it's vital to earn their respect," Handzel said. "As a coxswain, a lot of respect is earned by practicing with the rowers during the intense physical winter workouts."

Boyd was named lightweight men's captain. Just a junior, he will also continue his duties into next fall. The lightweight boat was unbeaten in 2007 until the team finished third at the elite Dad Vail Championship in their final race of the season. This year's boat could contain a youthful lineup with half of the team freshmen. Boyd will be a strong force in the boat regardless of what seat he powers.

"I consider it an honor that my teammates see me as a leader," Boyd said. "The captain is responsible for motivating and keeping us on track to reach our goals. The freshmen will learn how we were able to reach a high level of success last year."

Dorchak, a senior, is the heavyweight men's captain. He led a team during winter conditioning that focused on balance, coordination, and timing as well as fitness and strength. The team's goal is to make the grand final at the Dad Vail Championship.

"It's easy to be excited about the spring when the guys worked so hard in the winter," Dorchak said.

Schwartz will be the assistant captain for the heavyweights. He works hard to maximize his range of motion to encourage the boat to run with the best rhythm. His effort and improvement during the winter has inspired the team to embrace the mental toughness he commands.

"Mental toughness is the ability to push one's body beyond his own self perception of how far he can physically go," Schwartz said. "It has been a critical element of our training this year and is something a rower cannot function without."

The entire Mercyhurst fleet is looking forward beginning the season by hosting Mercyhurst Invitational on Findley Lake April 5.