Rosanne Marcus-Riddick

Inducted May 2009

Rosanne began her swimming career with the Portland YMCA team for the 1964-65 swimming season under Coach Phil Lucas. The following season she joined the Portland Boy’s Club under Coach Harold Paulson. She went on to set many Maine AAU age group records and won 2 New England AAU titles in the 100 butterfly. From 1970-1972 she competed in the U.S. Region 1 AAU Championships place 4th in two of those meets.

As a Deering high school swimmer, she was undefeated during her 3 years in the league. She won 9 southwestern titles and by the end of her high school career held seven Maine state records in the 50 free (26.6), 100 free (first Maine girl under 1 minute :58), 200 free (2:07), 50 butterfly (27.9 stood for 14 years), 100 IM ( 1:06.8) and as a part of the 200 medley and 200 free relays. Was elected tri-captain her senior year.
Attended Yale University in the fall of 1972 and trained with the men’s team and competed with the junior varsity men’s meets since there was no women’s team.

She qualified for the A.I.A.W.’s (Association of Interscholastic Athletics for Women and precursor to the women’s NCAA’s) national championships all 4 years at Yale, placing top 16 in the 100 butterfly in 1973. In 1973, Yale began a women’s program where she set two school records in winning the New England Championships in the 50 and 100 butterfly.

Eventually won 4 more New England titles in the 50 and 100 fly from 1974 and 75. She was name MVP for 3 seasons at Yale and captain for her final 2 seasons. She was instrumental in helping the program gain varsity status. Upon graduation held school records for the 100 fly (1:00.5) and 200 butterfly (2:11.0) and 2 relays.

She started the first girls high school swim team at Lowell, Massachusetts in 1981 and started a club program there as well (13 of her swimmers went on to become college captains in Division 1 + 3 programs)
Rosanne lives in Westford, Massachusetts with her husband Ray and daughter Sage.