St. Catharine’s Mastracci Earns Spot in Row Ontario Hall of Fame
Two-time Olympian Natalie Mastracci was recognized for her outstanding rowing career on Thursday becoming the latest inductee into the 2025 Row Ontario Hall of Fame.
Mastracci’s journey in rowing began in her senior year of high school, when she joined the rowing team at Denis Morris Secondary School in her hometown of St. Catharines. What was initially an attempt to get in some rowing training before her upcoming basketball season, turned into a lifechanging opportunity for Mastracci. After just one year in rowing, she earned a scholarship to Syracuse University and would soon embark on an impressive eight-year national team career.
At Syracuse, Mastracci was a member of the Orange’s rowing team from 2007-11 and 2013. She earned the Syracuse University rookie of the year in 2007 and would go on to be named to the Big East All Conference First Team twice and become a Pocock All American and four-time CRCA Mid-Atlantic All American. During her time in university, she also began her national team career, competing in her first major international event, the U23 World Rowing Championships, in 2008. After two straight fourth place finishes in 2008 and 2009, she and the U23 women’s eight captured a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2010, the first international medal of Mastracci’s career. A year prior, Mastracci’s busy rowing schedule also saw her compete as a member of Team Ontario at the 2009 Canada Summer Games, where she won a gold medal in the women’s eight and silver in the women’s four.
In 2011, Mastracci earned a spot on the senior women’s national team and continued her success in the eight by winning the silver medal at the World Championships. The crew finished less than a second behind the Americans, setting the stage for a showdown at the 2012 London Olympics the following year. In London, Mastracci and the eights crew reached the Olympic podium, claiming the silver medal in another close race. Her success on the international stage didn’t stop there as she would earn three more World Rowing Championship medals from 2013-15.
Mastracci capped off her national team career with another trip to the Rio Olympics in 2016, where she finished in fifth place with the women’s eight. At the end of her impressive career, Mastracci had earned an Olympic silver medal, six World Rowing Championship medals, 11 World Rowing Cup medals, three national championship golds (W2-), five Canadian Henley Golds, and the Remenham Cup at the Royal Henley Regatta. She received several recognitions for her outstanding achievements, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the RCA Award of Merit for service in rowing, Thorold Athlete of the Year (2), Niagara Athlete of the Year (2), and St. Catharines Athlete of the Year.
Row Ontario is announcing the inductions of the 2025 Hall of Fame class throughout the week as part of ‘Hall of Fame Week’. Members of the class announced so far include, Ian McFarlane (Coach), who was announced in May, the 1984 Men’s Eight (Crew), Doug Marshall (Coach), and Peter King (Builder). Stay tuned this week for more announcements on the 2025 induction class of the Row Ontario Hall of Fame.
