Fifteen-year-old Elijah Gilmore and 16-year-old Roman Sykora earned spots at the US Rowing Youth National Championships next week in the U17 Men's Single Scullers division at their regional qualifier.
Sykora placed first, while Gilmore finished third by less than a second.
The Waco Rowing Center's competitive team launched about a year ago, making the teenagers the program's first athletes to qualify for nationals.
"We get to set a benchmark for other athletes after us to follow and do better," Gilmore said.
The achievement is especially notable for Gilmore, who has been rowing for only about a year.
Sykora, who has rowed for about two years, said the sport rewards dedication and consistency.
"Rowing is one of the few sports where the amount of time you put into it is the results you get," he said.
Sykora will be a junior at Live Oak Classical School next year and Gilmore is homeschooled. Both train six days a week on the Brazos River.
For head coach and program director Matt Scheuritzel, the team's early success represents an opportunity to introduce more Central Texas students to a sport that is less common in the region.
"I just think it's another opportunity for kids to have a chance to excel at a sport that may be a little less saturated and propel themselves," Scheuritzel said.
Scheuritzel said he hopes rowing can create future opportunities for local athletes, including potential paths to college programs.
The sport also teaches perseverance, Sykora said.
"It's about showing up on the days that you're not feeling it and doing that over and over again," he said.
The U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships will be held June 11-14 in Sarasota, Florida. More than 1,000 athletes representing 236 clubs are expected to compete. Only 11 of those clubs are from Texas.
Both athletes face a tough battle in Florida. Starting Thursday, Gilmore and Sykora will compete against 25 other competitors in a 2,000-meter race. The fastest 16 will advance to Friday's semifinals and continue to dwindle to 6 athletes compete in the grand final Sunday.
As he guided Gilmore and Sykora through one of their final practices before the championship, Scheuritzel said there is little left to adjust before competition begins.
"These guys are both good. They're both very ready. I would be disappointed if we didn't have at least one of them make the grand final," he said.
