Waco Rowers Make Waves: Local Athletes Head to National Youth Championships

The Waco Rowing Center is celebrating a significant milestone as two of its competitive athletes, 15-year-old Elijah Gilmore and 16-year-old Roman Sykora, qualified for the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships. They will compete in the U17 Men's Single Scullers division, making them the first from the center's competitive team, which was established just a year ago, to reach this national level. At a recent regional qualifier, Roman Sykora secured first place, while Elijah Gilmore impressively finished third, trailing by less than a second. Their success is particularly notable for Gilmore, who has only been involved in rowing for approximately a year. Sykora, a rising junior at Live Oak Classical School, noted that rowing is a sport where "the amount of time you put into it is the results you get," emphasizing the reward for consistent effort. Both athletes train rigorously six days a week on the Brazos River. Head coach and program director Matt Scheuritzel views their achievements as a prime opportunity to introduce more Central Texas students to rowing, a sport less prevalent in the region. He hopes that involvement in rowing can open doors for local athletes, potentially leading to scholarships and collegiate opportunities. The U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships will take place from June 11-14 in Sarasota, Florida, drawing over 1,000 athletes from 236 clubs across the nation, with only 11 representing Texas. Gilmore and Sykora will face 25 other competitors in a 2,000-meter race, aiming to be among the top 16 to advance to the semifinals, with only six ultimately reaching the grand final. Scheuritzel expressed confidence in his athletes, stating that both are well-prepared. He shared his high expectations, adding, "I would be disappointed if we didn't have at least one of them make the grand final." Sykora also highlighted the mental fortitude gained from the sport, describing it as "about showing up on the days that you're not feeling it and doing that over and over again."