Brown, Crystal

Crystal Brown played basketball and softball, and excelled in all three sports. She was the first freshman to earn a starting position on the Westhill varsity basketball team. Coach Ryan recalls Crystal as “one of the finest, most natural athletes to come out of Stamford.

She was an outstanding leader – a super person – who had the physical attributes, tenacity, and work ethic to succeed in everything she did.” Crystal was part of a “special group at Westhill who helped make coaching a very meaningful and rewarding experience.” Brown was named to the All-State Team during her junior year and earned All-County honors as a junior and senior. She was named 1977 Player of the Year and selected to the First All-City Girls’ Basketball Squad. She averaged 13 points per game during her senior year in 1977 and was part of the first FCIAC Championship for Westhill.

Crystal’s athletic endeavors resulted in her being selected as a Women’s Sports Magazine High School All-Star (1976) and acknowledgement of that honor by Billie Jean King. In her senior year, Crystal was also voted “‘Best All-Around Student.” Crystal continued her education at Eastern Connecticut State University where she was a starting guard for two seasons before suffering a severed Achilles tendon. After rehabilitation, she transferred to Southern Connecticut State College where she played center field for Softball Coach Louise Albrecht for two seasons.