The reminders are everywhere at the West Side Rowing Club.

Posted in the tank room is a sign that reads, “Win Henley Gold.”

Crowding the walls in the trophy room are rows upon rows of plaques honoring past Henley champions — many blackened and salvaged from a fire that burned down the old West Side building in 1975.

Wherever rowers turn, they’re reminded of why they’re here training constantly. No silvers or bronzes are awarded at the ancient Canadian Henley. Only firsts.

“It’s one of those things that is beat in your head right when you walk in the door,” said Matt Logue, the manager of rowing and boathouse operations at West Side.

After winning three gold medals last summer, the West Side Rowing Club will have 50 crews competing at the 127th annual Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catharines on Tuesday through Sunday. Boats from as far as California and England are making the trip.

Last year, the Junior B women’s eight, the Senior B lightweight men’s four and the Senior B lightweight women’s eight all won gold from West Side. This year, Logue said West Side is loaded with crews that could win in St. Catharines.

“The lightweights are some of our better ones and the Junior B women and men are both very fast,” Logue said. “We’re deep this year. This is probably one of the deepest years we’ve had.”

Logue isn’t sure what exactly spiked interest, speculating a lot has to do with the success of West Side alum Steve Coppola in the 2008 Summer Olympics. The Buffalo native won a bronze medal in Beijing, creating a buzz for the sport locally.

Nine members of the club are heading to Ivy League schools to row next fall with 34 in all set to row in college, according to Logue.

“Our coaches have just been drilling these guys 12 months a year now,” Logue added. “So they’re really in great shape and really doing well. They created a program that kids really bought into and they’re hooked.

“Who knows what will happen on race day but we’re pretty optimistic.”

One crew itching for the Henley Regatta is the under-23 women’s lightweight eight. Logue said the boat lost by three-tenths of a second last summer. Most are back for redemption.

“They’re really anxious to get back out there,” Logue said. “They’re going to give another go at it so we’ll see what happens.”

On the men’s side, senior coach Chris Pucella expects host crews from St. Catharines to pose stiff competition.

Throughout this summer’s circuit of races, St. Catharines’ senior eight has had West Side’s number. It’s a rivalry that dates back to the 1940s, Pucella said. With an influx of talent, he’s hopeful his crews will break out up north.

“We’re running the U. S. Rowing Development Camp out of West Side this summer so we’ve brought in college guys from around the country,” Pucella said. “We’re really targeting the heavyweights, the senior eight at Henley.”

Two of Pucella’s boats that fared well last summer return some rowers. The men’s lightweight four that took gold returns James Thompson and Justin Fafrington and the senior eight heavyweight crew that finished in second place returns Sarington, Mike Brummer and Chris Courtin.

Farrington is a two-time winner who has also won at club nationals.

Among the gold-medal winning women who are back this year are: Alison Todd, Sarah Giancola, Sage Green, Mary Kate Frauenheim, Danielle Carlino, Veronique Irwin, Kate Yeksegian, Abby Giancola, Brittany Knaszak, Kelly Solowski, Kitty Mahoney, Rachel Hirschbeck, Shannon McDonnell, Olympia Giolekas, Puja Sztorc, Charlotte Lane, Kelsey Kean, Erin Wylie and Mallorie Reinecke.

Todd (Syracuse), Giancola (Northeastern), Kean (Tulsa) and Reinecke (Buffalo State) are back after competing for their college teams.

On the wall lining the Black Rock Canal between the Perry Street Bridge and the Peace Bridge are painted names of past Henley champions—visual inspiration for the rowers every time they’re on the water.

This week is the climax of a year’s worth of training. At the Henley, there’s no such thing as a silver medal.

“We have some crews that have a real good shot at [gold],” Pucella said. “But you don’t know what other guys are doing. I wouldn’t say we have expectations of winning but we’re as prepared as we’re going to be.

“It really is North America’s championship.”