Sports Briefs

EPHS Girls Soccer has New Coach
The East Providence girls soccer team will begin the 2024 season with a new coach.  Former Townie boys soccer standout, Mateo Andrade has been named new head coach.  After meeting with some success in the past, the team has moved between RIIL Divisions I, II and III.   

“I’m excited and honored to join the East Providence High School Girls Soccer program and look forward to giving back to the school that has given much to me. I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported me on this continuous journey! Your encouragement and guidance have been invaluable. The hard work starts now,” said coach Andrade.

The Townies won a Division III championship and were runners-up the year after.  They also played for a state title in Division II twice. But as the team faced rebuilding seasons off and on, they attempted to do so in a tough Division I.  That didn’t go well and East Providence moved back to Division II for this season.   

Andrade is no stranger to soccer and specifically, East Providence soccer.  He has been involved coaching in area youth and independent soccer programs.  He is also an EPHS graduate and four-year standout player for the Townies boys soccer team.  Andrade is inheriting a young team and he believes they are eager to learn.  He is promising a team that will learn and play hard in every game.

EPHS Girls Volleyball Back in D1
The storied Townie girls’ volleyball program has returned to Division 1 where they had lived for many years.  The program has won eight state championships and played in a total of twelve state title matches.  Led mostly by Hall of Fame coach Luis Carvalho, the Townies were one of the state’s elite programs.  Coaching with Carvalho many of those years was current coach and also EP Athletic Director Alex Butler.  Under Butler, the volleyball team has continued to achieve.  As with many programs however, the team dropped to Division II as they sought to regain some brief lost ground among the state leaders.  Since 2022 East Providence competed in Division II.  It didn’t take long for the Townies and Butler to fight back to the top.  East Providence was runner up to a state championship in 2022 and came back last year to sweep Cumberland for the D2 title at Rhode Island College after a near perfect regular season.

“I am glad to return to tougher competition,” said Butler.  “My players are working hard, some may not be known state-wide yet, but they soon will be.  I’m confident and excited about being back in DI.  It will take hard work, and we’ll see.”  Butler is assisted by former Townie All-State player Kaite Bellamy.

2024 Volleyball Roster:
Layla Bates, Vivian Bernhardt, Trinity Johnson Carter, Aliyah Evora, Azia Melse, Audrey Lepine, Kaia Greene, Siena Rietheimer, Trinity Provencher, Abigail Raphael, Eliza Vest, Jathai Sanchez, Keira Mullen and Audrey Bernard.  Head Coach: Alex Butler.  Assistant Coach: Kaitlyn Bellamyand  Athletic Trainer: Amanda Moran.

Late EP Couple 2024 RI Hockey Award Recipients
The late John (Jack) W. Kennedy Jr. and wife, Joanne, were major contributors to the development of youth hockey in Rhode Island for more than half a century.  Jack was a standout at East Providence High School before a Hall of Fame hockey career at Norwich University where he was 3-time D3 All-East selection and served as team captain as a senior. In tribute to his outstanding play and later philanthropy, a bronze statue of John now proudly greets fans at the university’s Arena.

After college, Jack served two years as a military officer, after which he continued to play on top amateur teams such as the Eastern Olympics with some of the top players of the era. Back in East Providence, he and Joanne began a legacy of volunteerism and generosity. John donated his time as a youth hockey coach stressing fundamentals and having fun. He also served as a volunteer assistant at East Providence High where they annually present the John W. Kennedy Jr. Award to the Outstanding Senior Player.  Jack served as President of the East Providence Hockey Association, the Greater Providence Youth Hockey Association and the RI Amateur Hockey Association, each benefiting from his fundraising skills and personal financial support.

Shortly after his passing in 1988, Joanne, who sadly passed last year, continued Jack’s vision and philanthropy by continuing the tradition of the Fram International Hockey Tournament her husband championed when she organized the John W. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Hockey Tournament to honor her husband’s legacy.

Through 2018, the annual Kennedy Tournament, which also honored their late son, John III, was the longest running such tournament on the east coast. It hosted hundreds of teams and thousands of players from all over North America with games played in rinks throughout the region, including the RI Sports Center in North Smithfield, whose rink bears Jack’s name.

Proceeds from the tournament benefitted the growth of the game in Rhode Island with the Kennedy Foundation granting scholarships to individual players and donations to numerous high school, non-profit, and special needs programs and local rinks each year.

“For this and all they did to grow the game we love in the best and most generous way, we honor Jack & Joanne with the Malcolm Greene Chace Trophy for their “Lifetime of contribution to hockey in Rhode Island,” said officials of the RI Hockey Hall of Fame committee.

69th Dolly Searle Memorial Golf Tournament
The Dolly Searle Memorial Tournament was held at the Agawam Country Club in East Providence on June 13, 2024. The tournament provides funding for annual scholarships which are awarded to East Providence college-bound graduating high school students who plan to major in recreation, education, fine arts and public service.  The 2024 Dolly Searle winners include:

• 1st Low Gross: Albert Braz (75)
• Best Ball Team (148): Tony Lema, Bob Lema, Brad McCaffrey, Mike Larrivee
• Closest to the Pin Hole #5: Nelson Silva (AM); Brendan Murphy (PM)
• Closest to the Pin Hole #16: Anthony Brown (AM); Austin Pickford (PM)
• Longest Drive Hole #6: Mike Pendergast (AM); Tony Lema (PM)

The East Providence Recreation Department extends its deepest appreciation to Agawam’s head golf professional, Lou Rivers, as well as our generous sponsors: Cavaco Brothers. Inc.; Del’s Lemonade; Gilmore’s Flower Shop, Inc.; Graphic Ink; M.E. O’Brien & Sons; PMA Industries Inc. and Watson Funeral Home.

East Providence High School Fall Sports Schedules to Date:

EPHS Football Schedule:

9/06/24   6:00 PM Injury Fund Barrington @ EPHS

9/12/24   6:00 PM @ West Warwick High School

9/20/24   7:00 PM @ Westerly High School

9/27/24   6:00 PM @ Mt. Pleasant Conley Stadium  

10/04/24 6:00 PM vs Coventry @ EPHS

10/11/24 6:00 PM vs Shea High @ EPHS

10/18/24 6:00 PM vs South Kingstown @ EPHS

10/26/24 1:00 PM @ Moses Brown High

11/02/24 10:30 AM vs Tolman High @ EPHS

11/28/24 10:30 AM La Salle Academy @ EPHS

EPHS Girls Volleyball Schedule:

9/03/24    6:30 PM South Kingstown @ EPHS

9/09/24    6:00 PM @ Portsmouth High School

9/11/24    6:30 PM @ Barrington High School

9/13/24    6:30 PM vs Chariho @ EPHS

9/17/24    6:30 PM @ East Greenwich High

9/19/24    6:30 PM vs Cranston East @ EPHS

9/23/24    6:30 PM vs North Kingstown @ EPHS

9/25/24    6:30 PM vs Cranston West @ EPHS

10/01/24  6:30 PM @ La Salle Academy

10/03/24  6:30 PM @ Coventry High

10/07/24  6:30 PM @ North Kingstown

10/09/24  6:30 PM vs Prout School @ EPHS

10/15/24  6:00 PM @ South Kingstown High

10/21/24  6:30 PM vs Coventry @ EPHS

10/23/24  6:00 PM @ Chariho High School

EPHS Boys Soccer Schedule:

8/30/24    6:00 PM @ Barrington High School

9/03/24    6:30 PM vs PCD @ EPHS

9/05/24    6:30 PM vs Smithfield @ EPHS

9/07/24    12:00 PM vs Tolman @ EPHS

9/10/24    6:30 PM @ Cumberland Tucker Field      

9/12/24    7:00 PM @ Central Falls Macomber Stadium      

9/17/24    6:30 PM @ Bishop Hendricken

9/21/24    11:00 AM @ Moses Brown High

9/24/24    6:30 PM @ North Kingstown

9/28/24    12:00 PM vs Classical @ EPHS

10/01/24   6:00 PM @ Portsmouth High

10/03/24   6:30 PM vs Central High @ EPHS

10/05/24   12:00 PM @ LaSalle Academy    

10/08/24   6:30 PM vs South Kingstown @ EPHS

10/12/24   12:00 PM vs Hendricken @ EPHS

10/15/24   6:30 PM vs La Salle @ EPHS

10/17/24   6:30 PM vs Cumberland @ EPHS

10/19/24   12:00 PM vs Cranston West @ EPHS

10/22/24   6:30 PM vs Barrington @ EPHS

EPHS Girls Soccer Schedule:

9/04/24    6:30 PM vs West Warwick @ EPHS

9/06/24    6:30 PM @ North Providence High

9/10/24    3:30 PM @ Providence Country Day

9/12/24    6:00 PM @ Middletown @ Gaudet           

9/17/24    6:00 PM @ Toll Gate Bend Street 

9/18/24    6:30 PM @ North Smithfield

9/24/24    6:30 PM vs North Providence @ EPHS

9/27/24    6:00 PM vs Toll Gate @ EPHS

9/30/24    6:30 PM vs Moses Brown @ EPHS         

10/03/24  4:00 PM @ Scituate High School

10/07/24  6:00 PM @ Coventry High School

10/11/24  4:00 PM @ West Warwick High

10/14/24  6:30 PM vs Middletown @ EPHS

10/16/24  6:30 PM vs Prout @ EPHS

10/22/24  3:45 PM @ Moses Brown High

10/25/24  6:30 PM vs Ponaganset @ EPHS

EPHS Unified Volleyball Schedule:

10/01/24  4:00 PM vs Barrington @ EPHS

10/07/24  4:00 PM vs Tiverton @ EPHS

10/15/24  4:00 PM vs Mt. Hope High @ EPHS

10/22/24  3:30 PM @ Barrington High School

10/29/24  3:30 PM @ Juanita Sanchez High School

EPHS Cross Country Boys & Girls Schedule:

9/09/24    TBD Multiple Schools Glen Park/Polo Grounds  

9/16/24    4:00 PM Multiple Schools @ Tiverton High School        

9/23/24    4:00 PM Multiple Schools @ Tiverton High School        

9/30/24    4:00 PM Multiple Schools @ Slater Park.

10/17/24  4:00 PM Invitational Multiple Schools @ Burrillville Middle     

10/19/24  11:00 AM @ Providence Country Day

10/21/24  4:00 PM Freshman Championship @ Deerfield Park       

10/26/24  10:00 AM Class Championship @ Ponaganset High        

11/02/24   2:15 PM State Championship @ Ponaganset High School          

11/09/24  11:00 AM New England Championship TBA

EPHS Girls Tennis:

9/03/24    4:30 PM @ North Smithfield High

9/05/24    5:30 PM vs Westerly High @ EPHS

9/09/24    4:00 PM vs St. Raphael @ EPHS

9/11/24    3:30 PM @ N Providence Olney Memorial Park

9/17/24    5:30 PM vs Woonsocket @ EPHS

9/19/24    4:00 PM @ Prout School

9/23/24    4:00 PM vs Lincoln School @ EPHS

9/25/24    4:00 PM vs Lincoln @ EPHS

10/01/24  4:00 PM vs Cranston East @ EPHS

10/03/24  4:00 PM @ Rogers High School

10/04/24  5:00 PM vs Chariho @ EPHS

10/07/24  3:30 PM @ Middletown (Gaudet) 

10/09/24  4:00 PM @ Cumberland Tucker Field      

10/15/24  5:00 PM vs Pilgrim High @ EPHS