Riverhead crew athlete signs with UMass/Amherst

Bree Ristau and her father Gary participated in a signing ceremony on Wednesday at Riverhead High School to celebrate her Division I Rowing scholarship to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. With her father and coach by her side, Ristau signed her letter from the University.

Ristau has been rowing for three years. She loves the challenge that the sport provides.

“It’s definitely intense,” she said. Though Ristau considered other colleges, she chose UMASS Amherst because of the family aspect of the team.

“The team was the main thing that drew me to them,” said Ristau. UMASS Amherst has offered her both athletic and academic scholarships. Ristau is ranked 15th in her class with a GPA of 99.6 percent. She also has an ebay business where she repairs and resells electronics.

“That’s how I was able to pay for my equipment,” Ristau noted. Her boat was nearly $5K and the rowing machine she requires for practice was another $1K, “It’s not cheap,” Ristau said.

Gary Ristau is very proud of his daughter. “She’s worked very, very hard,” he said, “it’s a difficult sport, both physically and mentally.” Both parents are happy with their daughters choice of UMass Amherst.

“It’s a great school,” Ristau said, “and the team was very, very, very warming to her, which is important.”

Coach Michelle Zaloom has been coaching Ristau for three years. Zaloom competed on the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Rowing teams. She thinks that Ristau has what it takes to make it to the Olympic level.

“Bree has the most potential and natural talent of any junior rower I’ve seen since I’ve been coaching,” said Zaloom, “She’s got a lot of natural ability and she’s also a hard worker, which is usually what it takes. I expect good things from her.”

RiverheadLOCAL photo by Laurie Nigro