Ryann Kristmanson '21 Recruiting Profile

My name is Ryann Kristmanson.

I grew up in Whistler, a ski resort about 2 hours north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I was a multi-sport athlete growing up. I played basketball, soccer, volleyball, swam and danced competitively and of course, skiing and mountain biking were an important part of my life. Basketball took priority around grade 7 for me as I knew it was the sport I wanted to pursue. When I began leaving behind my other sports I had played growing up it didn't bother me, I knew I had made the right decision. This was a natural progression for me as I come from a basketball family. My dad played on the Canadian National/Olympic Team for nine years. He has been my coach up until grade 10 and helped me get to where I am today. Growing up in the mountains and in a ski resort, it wasn't hard to fall in love with the outdoors. Skiing and mountain biking remain my favorite activities off the court. In addition, I have many other hobbies. Drawing and painting put me on the path of media design and that is now what my high school electives are focused on. I am part of a specialized Digital Media Academy at my high school and I hope to pursue this at post-secondary as well.

I have played basketball throughout high school, making the Provincial Championships every year, including this year with a third-place finish in the AAA girls tournament. This last year I moved from my small town of Whistler to Vancouver in order to pursue a higher level of basketball. My junior year was a great success with my new team and we achieved many of our high goals. On my new team this last season we become tight as players and people. Although I was new, I contributed as a leader and a top scorer. One of my greatest strengths as a player is my versatility, as I played all over the floor. I can contribute from any position including the wing, post, and point guard. 

My goals for basketball have always been high. The amount of work I have put in over my high school career has clearly made a difference in my game. I’ve always known that there will always be someone better than me, and it has motivated me every day to work harder than anyone else. I’ve overcome ACL surgery in high school and learned so much about myself and a person and player during that time. Perseverance, grit, and passion were all things that came out during that time and have stuck with me to this day. I learned it wasn’t just during rehab that I needed all these things, but also to become a better basketball player. I’ve always known I wanted to play basketball in college or university and have high goals for the future, such as to one day play on the Women’s National Team. I can’t wait to see what my future in basketball has in store for me.