Two Palmetto High students have done something no one else at their school has ever done before.

Colleen Monaghan and Luci Derrick, members of the Manatee County Youth Rowing Team, recently placed first in the state against high school teams across Florida.

“This title is so amazing for me,” said Monaghan, a senior. “It’s a great reward.”

Monaghan and Derrick are a team and use the double boat. They said they practice five days a week and do weightlifting as well.

They said it’s a lot of work and they are very dedicated.

“We run, erg, do weight training and constantly just think of everything we can do to be successful and strong as we can,” Monaghan said.

Derrick, a sophomore, said she thinks their dedication to the sport and team is what led to their success.

“Coming to practice every day, and focusing and putting in all, just everything they have, into sport,” said Derrick.

This is the first big win for the local program that has only been around for five years now.

“I’m extremely proud,” coach Trish Jackson said. “I’m very excited that this is a first for us, to bring home a trophy.”

Jackson said that when they started, no one really knew anything about rowing. Now, a few years later, they’re top competitors against programs that have been established for decades.

Kenny Ansbro, athletic director at Palmetto High, said he never thought they’d be this successful so quickly.

“We literally started carrying the boats in and tried to store them in the buildings at Palmetto High School," he said. "We had no clue where we’d start rowing and had no kids.”

To everyone's surprise, the rowing program took off and is a big hit. More than 60 athletes participate. Most are from Palmetto High School, but there are also some from Southeast and Manatee high schools.

Since the program started, the county has built the Fort Hamer Rowing Facility in Parrish. This where the team practices every day.

Monaghan and Derrick will be heading to New Jersey on May 22-23 for the nationals.

To help raise money for the trip and entire team, the group is holding the 4th annual Run2Row 5K Race and 1 Mile Fun Walk on Saturday, May 2.