BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

March 1

1950

Two Blackstone Valley swimming stars headed the list of record-breaking performers in the New England AAU championship meet, held at the Pawtucket Boys’ Club pool. Pawtucket East’s Ralph Brisco turned in a stellar performance in winning the junior 220-yard freestyle churning out a time of 2:23.9 in trouncing the field and shattering the 1940 mark of 2:28.3. Another standout was Central Falls’ Lucy Crocker who captured the 440 freestyle for women in a time of 5:49.6 which was so exceptional it will stand for some time.

1960

Big Ed McCreadie, a 6-foot-2, 250-pounder, caged 17 points as St. Edward’s advanced to the finals of the Grammar Division playoffs in the Blackstone Valley CYO Basketball League by edging St. Cecilia’s 20-19 who were paced by Ernie Letendre’s 11 points. In the other bracket, George Quinlan was the big gun notching 16 points in leading Holy Trinity to a 30-19 rout over St. Joseph’s of Central Falls. In the Intermediate final, Jim Lawson (14) and Bruce Gamache (13) combined for 27 points as St. Jude’s edged Holy Trinity 49-46 in the first game of their best-of-three series.

1970

Cyndie Ginish of Pawtucket led several area swimmers who gained honors in the New England AAU meet at the Pawtucket Boys’ Club pool. Ginish cracked the R. I. mark in the 200-yard individual medley with a 2:26 clocking and also took the 200 butterfly in 2:31. Other area winners representing the Pawtucket YMCA were Mike Benjamin: 50 freestyle for boys 8 and under (35.7), Stephen McCafferty: 50 breaststroke for boys 11-12 (33.7), Charlotte Black: 50 butterfly for girls 10 and under (34.5) and Scott Nicholson: 50 butterfly for boys 13-14 (26.8).