Pilgrim cross country ruled Rhode Island for nearly a decade when it took home five straight state championships from 1969-1973, then a sixth title in 1975. The team also won three straight New England championships in that span as well.

Leading the dynasty in that era were captains such as Tom Forsythe (’69), Paul McLaughlin (’70), David Gardiner (’71) and Bill Heffernan (’72).

Although many years have passed since the Pats’ golden age, the core runners have remained close friends and since 2012 have held an annual golf outing at Warwick Country Club that they have named, “The Captains Cup.”

The four friends were back at it for the 2025 edition on Tuesday, but this year’s celebration took on a greater meaning, as they also remembered the life of Paul Ryder, who was a captain of the 1969 team that won the school’s first championship. Ryder passed away last year and was the original founder of the Captains Cup. 

Ryder was one of the city’s all-time runners and his love for the sport began at Wyman Elementary when he would run home for lunch every day. He then became a legend at Pilgrim and ran a 4.24-minute mile as he guided the team to the title. 

He then attended the University of Rhode Island and eventually moved to Cambridge, Mass. and more recently Stoneham, Mass. He was an active member of every community in which he lived, coaching youth sports, playing in local golf leagues, serving as Board Chair of the Special Olympics Massachusetts, all while continuing to run and organize road races. 

The Pilgrim running community remains a close-knit family and relishes the annual opportunity to honor its tradition of excellence as well as its leaders, both past and present. 

“The early success of the Paul Ryder and Tom Forsythe teams set a high bar for those of us that followed. We all worked extremely hard to live up to their example and the expectations of our coach, Bill Sheehan,” said Heffernan. “But the greatest achievement is the lifelong friendships that we have formed and still cherish more than 50 years later.”