That’s why two 15-year-old South Niagara rowers — Katrina Pichelli of Notre Dame and Kayla Wakulich of E.L. Crossley — pushed past the physical anguish that grew with rowing 2000 metres in 7:56.72.

“This sport boils down to who can withstand the most pain,” said South Niagara coach Pat McNally. “They both have a mental toughness and that’s why I picked them. They simply never give up.” Midway through the race, and trailing Vancouver’s boat, Pichelli, a three-time Henley winner, picked up her pace to pass them and Wakulich, a rookie, stayed with her.

“My feelings about winning are split,” said Wakulich. “Because they (Vancouver) had us, but we worked our butts off for this medal.”

Both girls say they entered the sport because of participating family members, but Pichelli said rowing bloodlines isn’t everything.

“We put in lots of hours every day, so you have to be willing to work for it,” she said. “We only get a week off.”

The South Niagara Rowing Club trains 20k daily and rings true to its motto of “Miles make champions.”

Pichelli and Wakulich only met each other a couple of weeks ago, but their rowing styles connected instantly.

“Katrina is a special rower,” MacNally said. “She is bigger and stronger (than Kayla), but Kayla has the technique. She is developing into somebody who will take over this club in the future.”

It was South Niagara’s only gold medal of the six-day event.

Other notable placings for South Niagara include: Second place - junior B women’s four - Jacob Koudys (Coxswain), Katrina Pichelli, Victoria Hills, Heide MacMahon and Meagan Oinonen. Junior men’s double - Derek Makken and Mark Ventresca. Junior B men’s four - Brandon Griffin, John Kukoly, Trofym Anderson and Aaron Pye. Third Place - Junior B men’s double - Trofym Anderson and Aaron Pye. Senior B lightweight women’s quad - Emily Harrison, Stephanie Fisher, Lindsay Favotto and Kendra Gammie.