Sports Update

EPHS Girls Swim Team take Division IV Championship
The Townie girls swim team finished an undefeated season and won the Division 4 state championship in mid-February. The boys swim team came in second place in the Division 4 championships.  Swimmers Ines Benadouda, Sadie Gagnon, Abigail Ellison, Ryan Branch and Nick Capbianco will compete in the state championships at Brown University.

The meet was held at Roger Williams University.  The undefeated girls squad also won the dual-meet title with a 6-0 head-to-head record against opponents.  Soon to be RI Swim Hall of Fame inductee and Townie Head Coach Bob Hassan praised his team after the title match.  “Congratulations to my East Providence Girls Swim Team for winning the Division IV Championship and finishing the season undefeated. Our boys’ team also had a great meet as they finished in second place with great swims. I am very proud of these swimmers,” said an elated Hassan.  “I knew our girls team was outnumbered and needed to win three solo events and do well in the relays,” he said.  The team came through right away as they won the 200 yard medley relay.             

The girls and boys have swimmers competing in the Statewide Championship Meets in early March.  Qualifying for the girls are; Ines Benadouda, Sadie Gagnon, and Abigail Ellison.  The boys qualifiers are: Ryan Branch and Nick Capobianco.  Updates will be posted on ReporterToday.com.

Townie Wrestlers Place Four Heading to New Englands
 The Townies finished a strong season as the Tom Galligan led squad heads into the New England tournament with four entries.  Deacon McShane (6th) Simon Palombo (6th), Charles Phillips (3rd) and Ferhat Baha Akdemir (2nd).  “We’re hoping to find placement at New Englands as only the top three from Rhode Island are invited.  The team had a solid showing in the Division 1 State Championships at the end of last month.  Baha Akdemir took home silver and Charles Phillips bronze in their respective weight classes. Simon Palombo and Deacon McShane took home 6th place finishes. Baha and Charles will compete in the New England wrestling tournament this month. 

“This year a lot of goals were accomplished by our wrestlers,” said Assistant Coach Mario Peoples.  Deacon McShane who last wrestled in 7th grade, came back to wrestling this year and took 6th place in a very good weight class. He was very impressive,” adds Head coach Tom Galligan.  “Our senior Simon Palumbo fell short of being top 3 but that didn’t stop him from  placing for the team as he also took 6th,” added the coaches.  “Charles Phillips took 3rd place in what can be argued the toughest weight class in the state tournament. Ferhat Baha Akdemir won his semifinals match 4-3 to punch his ticket to the finals, and even though he fell short of the gold medal he proved to the rest of the young townies we belong not only in a tough Division One but on the podium even on the biggest stage,” said Peoples.  The team is looking forward to the New England tournament.  “I look forward to Ferhat and Charles to have a good weekend. We are a young team and this is a bright young group of kids can accomplish much next year.”

Earlier, the wrestling team participated in the Freshman/JV State Wrestling Tournament. Placing fourth and leading the way for the freshman were Max DeStefino with a 4th place finish, Aiden Schifino, X’Avian Hopper and Joe Vitilo all taking home the gold with a first place finish. The JV team took 3rd place and leading the way were Steven Clark with a 3rd place finish, Melvin Hernandez placing 2nd and Jayden Cabral and Jessie Clark both taking home gold with a first place finish.

2024 Wrestlers:  Ferhat Akdemir, Tyler Auclair, Roger Beaudet, Brennan Bernard, Isaiah Brown, Jason Brown, Jayden Cabral Acevedo, Jordan Carl, Jesse Clark, Steven Clark, Marco Cordeiro, Brady DeRoy, Maximilian Distefano, Jordan Estrela, Kingston Ferreira, Kaeden Francis, Machar Francis, Melvin Hernandez, X'Avian Hopper, Aidan Joia, Matthew Marlow, Steel Martin, Deacon McShane, Malcolm Moniz, Caelan Oliver, Simon Palumbo, Cameron Pedro, Charles Phillips, Jonathan Raposo, Devon Savage, Aydin Schifino, Ryan Tracy, Tristan Tysvaer, Aithan Vasquez and Joseph Vitolo.  Head Coach: Tom Galligan.  Assistant Coach: Mario Peoples. Athletic Trainer: Amanda Moran.

EP Boys Basketball Lose in Q-Final but Hopeful for State Open Play
The boys basketball team lost their quarterfinal game at Hendricken on 2/27.  The team will now await their seed in the upcoming open state championship.  The RI Interscholastic League has developed Divisional championships and an additional “Open” state championship which can allow most schools to compete for a State Title if they receive a good seeding after a successful season.  The Townies had a good run and won its initial Division I playoff game against Central High School with a decisive 82-41 win at EPHS. The Townies, winners of their last 7 games including wins against North Kingstown, Narragansett and La Salle, never trailed against the Central Knights, jumping out to a 14-4 lead in the opening minutes and never looked back. The home team led at halftime 33-22 and broke the game wide open in the third quarter with a 59-33 lead going into the last quarter.

The game’s pace actually slowed a bit in the first quarter as Townie Head Coach Joe Smith said that many of his players were new to playoff pressure. “It can take awhile for younger players to shake off playoff nerves,” Andrade said after the game. “But our senior center Kenaz Ochgwu led the charge and everyone else responded well,” said Andrade. Indeed the Townies dominated the 2nd half behind a game high 26 point performance from Levi Jacobs and Derrell Liggins’ 17 points, including four 3-point baskets. Kenaz Ochgwu had 11 “loud” points while Franklin Lopez and Jaydason Barros each had seven points for EP. But the highlight of the night for the large Townie crowd was the four monster dunks by Ochgwu. The senior center greatly raised the fan applause decibel level after each of his “dunks” bringing the crowd to its feet and further sinking the hopes of the Central players who had no answer for the Townies attack all night.  However, the Townies couldn’t solve the Hawks play in QFinal action and was bounced from that tourney play.  Hendricken and Ep also played in last year’s semifinal action at URI.

Girls Hockey Team in Playoffs
The East Bay Girls Hockey Co-Op, 1-3 in their last 4 games, is still alive in the state playoffs.  The team which includes three Townies, Sydney Olson, Margaux Boneu and Arden Wilkes, lands top seed La Salle in opening state playoff action.  Townie Sydney Olson is the leading scorer of the team, including a memorable “hat trick” performance in a prior key win by the East Bay Co-op team.  The team enters the current playoffs at Reporter March press time and their progress will be posted online.

EPHS Girls Track
The girls track team had 4 team members qualify for New Englands.  The 4 x 200 relay team composed of Kendra and Kandace Daniel, Samantha Clarke and Nazarae Phillip will head to the Reggie Lewis center in Boston.  Nazarae will also compete in the 55-meter dash. 

The boys indoor track & field team finished in 5th place overall at the JV state championship meet. The following boys placed individually: Nolan Travassos who ran a personal best time of 8.66 seconds to finish 1st in the 55 meter high hurdles; the 4x200 meter relay team consisting of Jietan Ruiz,Jack Pawlik, Julius Cortes, and Jaidin Ivy finished 3rd; the 4x400 meter relay consisting of Mac Prevete, Gerry Gagnon, Brian Rutkowski, and Jaidin Ivy finished 3rd; the 4x800 meter relay consisting of Will Anthony, Gerry Gagnon, Will Massey, and Luke Grimley finished 6th; and Jack Pawlik placed 7th in the long jump. In addition to those who placed Zekiah Hopper in the 300, Ryan Cahoon, and Jacob Libertore in the 1000 meter, Jietan Ruiz and Julius Cortes in the 55 meter, all achieved personal best performances.

In an earlier track meet last month, the Ep girls indoor track team competed at the Last Chance Qualifier meet. The 4x200m relay team finished 1st winning the meet. The team consists of Nazarae Phillip, Kandace Danie, Kendra Daniel and Sam Clarke. Phillip also did well in the 300m.

The Ep boys indoor track & field team finished a respectable 7th as a team at the Rhode Island freshman state championship. The following individuals placed at the meet: Jack Pawlik 2nd place in the 55 meter dash, and 6th place in the long jump. Gerry Gagnon 6th place in the 600 meter. The 4x200 meter relay consisted of Mac Prevete, Gerry Gagnon, Gus Belanger, and Jack Pawlik 3rd place.

Townie Grad Nate Silveira Signs with Rhode Island FC
In a press statement on February 20^th, Rhode Island FC announced that it has signed former Townie goalkeeper Nate Silveira, pending league and federation approval. The Rhode Island native joined RIFC ahead of the upcoming 2024 USL Championship season.

Silveira, who grew up in East Providence and attended East Providence High School, joins RIFC from Crown Legacy FC of MLS Next Pro.

“To be able to sign a quality player from the state of Rhode Island is really special,” said Rhode Island FC Head Coach Khano Smith. “As a club, one of our objectives is to show that there is a pathway to the professional level. Kevin and Nate represent the level of talent coming out of the Ocean State and both have worked extremely hard to get to this point.”

Prior to his season with Crown Legacy FC, Silveira spent four years at the University of Vermont. During his time with the Catamounts, Silveira was named back-to-back America East Goalkeeper of the Year while wearing the captain’s armband in his two final seasons. Silveira also gained valuable USL League Two experience in the summer between his final collegiate campaigns, captaining Vermont Green FC where he logged 900 minutes and recorded 27 saves. Before transferring to University of Vermont, the goalkeeper was named 2017 NECC Goalkeeper of the Year at Dean College and earned All-America honorable mention by the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Silveira’s youth career was highlighted as a member of Bruno United FC in Providence.

Rhode Island FC kicks off the 2024 USL Championship season at Bryant University’s Beirne Stadium on March 16 at 4 p.m. against New Mexico United. Limited tickets are available now and can be purchased at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets, by calling 401-955-RIFC (7432) or at the Beirne Stadium box office on matchday, pending availability. 2024 RIFC Group Tickets, Season Ticket Memberships, Flex Plans and Mini Plans are also available now to purchase on www.rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.