May 28, 2008

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst College rowers Bethany Brun and Michele Handzel were named NCAA Division II Pocock All-Americans this week by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA). As well, Handzel, Alexandria Bogart, Abbey Celarek, and Alicia Peterson were named CRCA Scholar-Athletes.

Brun, just a freshman, and Handzel, a junior, were selected to the 10-person All-American team. The Mercyhurst varsity eight boat was selected to compete at the NCAA Division II Championships May 30 through June 1 and finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in the country. The crew placed third at the Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate rowing regatta in the country, and finished second at the Mid-American Collegiate Rowing Association (MACRA) Regatta.

Handzel, Bogart, Celarek and Peterson were all selected as CRCA Scholar-Athletes. To be eligible for the award, each rower had to be at least a sophomore with a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, and have rowed in a minimum of 75 percent of the team's races.