Friday, November 16 2012 16:44

Written by RiverheadLOCAL

Riverhead High School senior Matt Crohan accepted a full scholarship to pitch at Winthrop University, a Division I school in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Along with his mother Stephanie and his father Ed, Matt participated in a signing ceremony to celebrate on Wednesday, November 14, at RHS.

"I really want to give Coach Maccone the credit he deserves in helping Matt get to this place in his baseball career," noted Matt's father, Ed Crohan. "Coach Maccone was there every step of the way for Matt. He always puts the kids first over everything else. He is, in the best sense of the word, an excellent teacher as well as a great coach."

According to varsity baseball coach Rob Maccone, "Matt is a talented left-handed pitcher with a 92 mph fast ball. He throws a very good change-up and a knuckle drop." His varsity record was 3-1 as a junior, with an ERA of under two runs per game. Matt also plays outfield.

"Over and above all his athletic abilities. Matt is a great kid and deserves all the recognition he has gotten and will get in the future. I'm really going to miss him," Maccone said.

Matt has been a starter since sophomore year, when he was 2-1 with an ERA under 2.00. He was All-League in his sophomore and junior years. Matt led the team with a .500 batting average last year.

Matt has also played for Team Citius in Dallas, Texas and was selected to play on a Yankees and Phillies Scout tryout team.

"I'm very excited about playing for Winthrop," Matt said. "I really like the coaching staff, the team, which is in a building stage and the college itself."

Matt plans to study business management or marketing at Winthrop University.

Photo Caption: RHS senior Matt Crohan is pictured with his mother, Stephanie, and father, Ed, during his "signing ceremony". Standing, from left: Athletic Director Bill Groth, Assistant Principal Michael Hugelmeyer, varsity baseball coach Rob Maccone, Superintendent Nancy Carney, guidance counselor Chris Martin, and guidance director Charles Gassar.

RiverheadLOCAL photo courtesy of Riverhead Central School District

Source: Riverhead Central School District press release issued Nov. 15, 2012

Friday, November 16 2012 14:35

Written by RiverheadLOCAL

Riverhead High School senior Ryan Bitzer has signed a commitment to play lacrosse with Division I Stony Brook University Seawolves.

Ryan, an All-County midfielder, is also an MVP All-Conference point guard on the Blue Waves basketball team and is the Waves football team All-County quarterback. He is looking to lead the Waves (7-2) to a semifinal win against West Babylon tomorrow in Riverhead.

“I really enjoy lacrosse,” Ryan said. “It’s very physical and uses a combination of skills. I like that.”

Ryan was named MVP of the lacrosse team, which had its best season ever last year, finishing 10-5 overall and missing a playoff berth by a slim power-point margin.

“Ryan is a very talented athlete,” Coach Vic Guadagnino said. “He does the job in the classroom, on the court, and out on the field in multiple sports. Not only is he a great athlete, but he is a very special person who is a pleasure to coach.”

Ryan was also named Athlete of the Year for 2011-2012 by The Riverhead News-Review.

Friday, November 16 2012 13:49

Written by Laurie Nigro

"The earth is our mother, we must take care of her," chanted the students from Mrs. Kent's second grade class at Riley Avenue Elementary School's annual Thanksgiving Celebration. Parents filled the gymnasium on Friday to watch the children perform.

Mrs. Messina's second grade class followed, singing, "Hey Pilgrims we'll tell your tale to journey to your freedom." Dressed as Pilgrims and Native Americans, the children sang, danced and spoke about life in early America.

Second grade students at Riley Avenue have been performing the Thanksgiving Celebration for five years, according to Mrs. Kent. The two classes lined the risers and took turns offering facts about the Pilgrim's voyage to the New World and how the Wampanoag tribe helped the settlers. They spoke about how each group lived, the struggles and losses of the Pilgrims, and the first Thanksgiving celebration, which lasted for three days.

The celebration culminated with a lively song and a loud round of applause from the audience, which included other students, families, and the schools principal, Mr. Enos, and assistant principal, Ms. Grim. The students then attended a Thanksgiving feast with their classmates.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Laurie Nigro
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Thursday, November 15 2012 09:17

Written by Laurie Nigro

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