Thirteen of Riverhead’s rowers took part in the New York State Scholastic Rowing Championships at Saratoga Springs this weekend, racing against 73 different teams, bringing home a total of four medals — two silver and two bronze.
Ethan Zaweski and Johnathan Schmitt, the Boys Lightweight 150 double, notched a silver medal for their outstanding performance while Erin Hesler, Emily Harsch, Sam Keupp, and Amber Giambone brought home a silver medal as part of the Girls Senior Quadruple Sculls as well.
Schmitt also won a bronze medal in Boys Pair with Rohan Sment.
In Boys Novice Four, the team of Anthony Ortega, Tristin Krueger, Ivan Stapon and Liam Sment won bronze with Kara Reese of McGann Mercy as their coxswain. Riverhead has never even had a novice team qualify for the State Championships before this year, let alone medal.
The biggest surprise of the event was the effort of two freshman, Nolan Renshaw and Bryce McKissick, who were entered in the Boys Senior Lightweight 160 Double race because there wasn’t a novice doubles, so the fourteen year olds competed against seniors, placing in fourth.
Kara Reese and Julia Halsey of McGann Mercy also won a silver medal at States in the GIrls Pair.
First year coach and former olympian Michelle Zaloom, was thrilled with her team’s performance even though the equipment they used wasn’t quite up to par.
“We had to rent some boats for the finals,” said Zaloom. “The boats we use in practice, which were donated by local boat clubs years ago, are in no shape to race at a high level.”
“The clubs were going to get rid of the boats,” she said.
Riverhead crew, established eight years ago, is more of a club than a legitimate varsity sport because it’s not recognized by Section XI, meaning that they don’t receive as much funding as other sports.
“The school provides some funding,” said Zaloom. “Not nearly enough, but some.”
Outdated equipment surely presents challenges, according to Zaloom.
“I rented two boats because Riverhead only has one boat with the caliber to race,” she said. “You need solid equipment, it’s the difference between winning and not winning.”
Even though Riverhead’s rowers were only given one practice day in the rented boats, they still raced at a very competitive level.
“We placed in four out of the five races we entered,” said Zaloom. “I couldn’t be any happier.”
Editor’s note: A previously published version of this story had the wrong dates of the state and Long Island championship events.
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