Class of 2002
Laurie (Gagnon) Greenlaw
Laurie Gagnon Greenlaw was one of the best tennis players-men or women-in CCRI history," said Hall of Famer Ray Carr. She twice became a first-team All-New England singles and doubles champion (with Debbie Donahue) in 1983 and 1984. In 1984, Greenlaw advanced to the 3rd round of the National Junior College Tournament in Ocala, Florida.
At East Providence High School, Greenlaw had a distinguished high school career, first as an All-State girls’ singles champion in 1977 and then, at No. 2 or 3 singles on the boys' team from ‘78-’79. From 1982-1987, she was the No. 1 Rhode Island women’s amateur player and had climbed to No. 7in New England. Greenlaw and her husband Bob Greenlaw teamed up to become one of the top-ranked mixed doubles teams in New England.
She was a former tennis coach for several high schools and taught at Centre Court in East Providence. Recently, she has still been competing in Cape Coral, Florida.
Derek Grudinskas
Grudinskas was one of the most feared sluggers ever to wear a CCRI baseball uniform.
Twice an All-Region first-team selection (1989 and 1990), he forged his way into the record books with a mighty bat, especially on the 1990 team that went 28-10. A designated hitter in 1990, he was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American after setting CCRI individual single-season marks at the time for hits (57), season hitting average (.467) and setting a career mark at the time for career average (.444). He was the team’s leader in home runs (9), RBIs (46), doubles (12) and walks (23).
Later he batted .459 at Framingham State College in 1991 and .402 at Bridgewater State College in 1997, helping the team to the NCAA Division III World Series.
After that, Grudinskas was named to the MASCAC All-Stars and Mid-Atlantic All-Regional Tournament Team. In the Boston Park Amateur League, he was a player-manager for Palmer Mobil Club and was a six-time All-Star in 1993.
Harry Keenan
Dr. Keenan is the all-time leader in wins as a CCRI golf team coach, having 187 wins during his tenure.
During his tenure as a coach from 1989-1997 and 1999, he guided the team to seven individual or medalist or team regional championships and was selected five times as New England Golf Coach of the Year. Five of his teams qualified for NJCAA Division III championships in Arizona, Nebraska, Georgia and North Carolina. From 1995-1997, the teams he coached combined for an overall record of 71-7 and finished 5th in the 1995 Division III Nationals at Greensboro, NC.
Dr. Keenan was also an instrumental piece of starting a tradition of pre-season trips to North Carolina, while strengthening and upgrading the schedule in competition against junior college and four-year schools. As a part-time professor at CCRI-Warwick campus and being an administrator in the office of academic affairs, as well as having degrees in Pharmacy, Biology and Counseling; Dr. Keenan was known as “The Renaissance Man” of the CCRI Athletic Department.
As a co-founder and 1st President of the Knight Krawlers staff and faculty running club established in 1976; he trained and competed with this intrepid group around campus and in several races, including the Boston Marathon for almost a quarter-century. Dr. Keenan was inducted into CCRI’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
Karen Potter
Potter was an exemplary CCRI student-athlete from ‘94-’96. She was a pioneer for CCRI women, participating on the women’s cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams.
Potter was named as NJCAA Academic All-American in Cross-Country after earning a 3.50 GPA. She was later named as an All-District Cross-Country selection. Toiling hard to become one of CCRI’s best all-around middle- and long-distance runners, she improved by leaps and bounds in 1995, setting woman’s outdoor track records at the time in the 800 and 1500 meters and in the discus as well.
Potter was named team MVP and was All-Northeast District in the 800, 1500, and 3000 meters. She distinguished herself in the classroom, being honored as a top student-athlete for women twice; first by receiving the Ann Cullen Award for a 3.50 GPA in 1995 and then by her selection for the Mary O’Neil Award in 1996 with a 3.75 GPA.
Ken Skelly
Skelly was CCRI’s premier long-distance runner on the men’s cross country and track teams in 1994 and 1995.
As the 1994 cross country team MVP and the 11th-best runner at the NJCAA National Division III Championship in Alfred, NY; he was selected Second-Team Junior College All-American, First-Team All Northeast District and All-Region. He placed 3rd in the both the 5000 meter-run and the steeplechase at the 1995 NJCAA Northeast District Division III championships and was named Second-Team All-District in the steeplechase.
At the University of Rhode Island, Skelly was the leading men’s cross-country scorer in 1995 and participated on the indoor and outdoor track teams. After that, he has coached track and cross country at Toll Gate High School and for the International Institute of Sport in Kingston as a United States Track and Field Coach.
Skelly is currently a math teacher and Head Coach of the Boy’s Cross Country team at LaSalle Academy.