Mercyhurst University Women's Crew

Spracklen, a native of Marlow, England, has been the Head Womens Rowing Coach since 1992 and the Men's Head Coach since 2001. He started sculling at the age of eight under the direction of his legendary father, Mike Spracklen, the current Russian Olympic coach. Coach Spracklens success has been both as an athlete on the British National Team and as a coach earning DII National Coach of the Year in 2004, 2009, and 2010.   Under Spracklens guidance, the Laker women's rowing team has competed at NCAA Division II National Championship from 2002-2005 and again from 2008-2015. Highlights of those appearances resulted in the program winning two NCAA championships in 2004 and 2010. From those crews, there have been 19 First Team All-Americans and 32 Academic All-Americans. Mercyhurst was also the national runner-up in 2005, 2009, 2011 and 2015. The womens varsity eight have also won four consecutive Dad Vail titles 2009-2012. The women's lightweight eight won the ECAC Championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and placed fourth at the IRA Division I Championships in 2002.  Emily Francis won the NCAA Division II Elite 89 Award in 2014. The Mens team has been equally successful, winning seven Dad Vail trophies in the last eight years. The 2012 mens lightweight eight won three consecutive Dad Vail Championships, a first for a varsity eight at Mercyhurst. In 2009, the mens lightweight four won the James J. Lynch trophy in a time of 6:45.004 to cap off an undefeated season. The Lakers have also experienced success abroad where they competed at the prestigious Royal Henley Regatta in England (2009 and 2013). In 2009, the Lakers made an historic run, defeating two seeded crews on their way to the final, where they lost to a crew from Oxford University.   Spracklen is also a Clinical Instructor for USRowing and has spoken at numerous national conventions and conducted coaching clinics across the country. His coaching talents have also taken him to India and Canada in various roles. He has also worked with the US National Team's medical staff since 1995. Spracklen graduated from Mercyhurst in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in sport medicine and earned a master's in sport medicine/athletic training from Western Michigan University in 1991.   He is married to 1994 Mercyhurst alumna Mia (Urycki), and is the father of three girls and a boy: Henley (born in 1999), Teagan (2001), Luca (2003), and Rowan (2008).  

Francis is beginning his sixth year at Mercyhurst. Last season, the women's rowing team finished as national runners-up, bowing to Barry University at the National Championship held in California. Francis came to Mercyhurst after serving as the head coach of the Pennsylvania State University Crew Club for four years, a title he had held since August 2006. At Penn State, Francis was responsible for all training aspects of the mens and womens squads. His efforts led to a Mid-Atlantic Region Womens Coach of the Year title and gold at the American Collegiate Rowing Association National Championship in the womens varsity pair and the mens varsity four. He also guided the clubs progression to the finals at the Dad Vail Regatta in the womens lightweight four, womens pair and mens varsity four. In the classroom, Francis helped mentor 29 Academic All-Americans and five Mid-Atlantic All-Region student-athletes during his tenure at Penn State. While in State College, Francis also served as the marketing manager of APPOUTDOORS where he was responsible for all print and digital advertising campaigns. Additionally, he directed the companys online presence through various social media outlets to increase Web site traffic and online sales. Prior to his stint at Penn State, the Orlando, Fla. native was a mathematics teacher in the Orange County Public system from 2001 to 2006 and also worked with various rowing programs including the Orlando Area Rowing Society, Orlando Rowing Club, Edgewater High School Crew and Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida. Francis graduated from the University of Central Florida in May 2000 with bachelor of science and business administration and marketing. Additionally, he holds a Level III plus Advanced Level certification from the United State Rowing Association.

Wright to the coaching staff as the programs first graduate assistant.  Wright, a 2015 graduate of Mercyhursts psychology program, will work with both the womens and lightweight mens programs while pursuing a Masters in Organizational Leadership at Mercyhurst. Wright began her rowing career at Mercyhurst, picking up the sport as a freshman and earning her way into the varsity eight as a novice.  She went on to race at each NCAA National Championship in her four years at Mercyhurst, culminating in 2015s National Championship Runner-Up.  Wright was recognized by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) for her efforts as a First Team All-American both her junior and senior years and served as team captain as a senior. Off the water, Wright was a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology, was the rowing representative for the Student Athlete Activities Board (SAAB), and worked with various community outreach efforts including The House that Hurst Built, a Habitat for Humanity project for a local Erie resident. Kristine stood out amongst the other great candidates that were considered, commented Francis.  Ive worked closely with Kristine for four years and watched her develop into a student-leader on this team.  Im excited to see her develop her own coaching style and learn how to contribute to the team in a different way than shes done in the past. Kristine Wright Graduate Assistant ERIE, PA Interim head coach Jamie Francis announced today the addition of Kristine Wright to the coaching staff as the programs first graduate assistant.  Wright, a 2015 graduate of Mercyhursts psychology program, will work with both the womens and lightweight mens programs while pursuing a Masters in Organizational Leadership at Mercyhurst. Wright began her rowing career at Mercyhurst, picking up the sport as a freshman and earning her way into the varsity eight as a novice.  She went on to race at each NCAA National Championship in her four years at Mercyhurst, culminating in 2015s National Championship Runner-Up.  Wright was recognized by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) for her efforts as a First Team All-American both her junior and senior years and served as team captain as a senior. Off the water, Wright was a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology, was the rowing representative for the Student Athlete Activities Board (SAAB), and worked with various community outreach efforts including The House that Hurst Built, a Habitat for Humanity project for a local Erie resident. Kristine stood out amongst the other great candidates that were considered, commented Francis.  Ive worked closely with Kristine for four years and watched her develop into a student-leader on this team.  Im excited to see her develop her own coaching style and learn how to contribute to the team in a different way than shes done in the past.