March 28, 2024

SPORTS UPDATE

Spring Previews

Posted

EPHS Wrestling Has Winning Season
The Townie wrestling squad raced through Division II with an undefeated dual meet record. Winning the division then placed the Townies in the DII Sectional tournament. “Out of 26 teams, we ended up in 2nd place.” The following were results of the Division II Sectionals:
Martin Moniz - 1st @ 120lbs
Michael Foster - 2nd @ 126lbs
Charles Phillips - 3rd @ 145lbs
Hayden Duqutte-Decristofaro - 3rd @ 132lbs
Jacob Poore - 3rd @ 160lbs
Machah Francis - 3rd @ 285 lbs
Robert Amaral - 3rd @ 182lbs
Robert Arrendondo - 6th @ 152lbs
Steven Clark - 7th @ 195lbs
Brady Delroy - 8th @ 106lbs

All place finishers represented the Townies at the Open State Tournament with all high schools in Rhode Island. East Providence finished in 14th of all schools.

“It was a tough couple of years as we dealt with COVID restrictions and graduations, etc.” said veteran head coach Tom Galligan. Galligan is the senior coach across all Townie sports and one of the more respected and longtime coaches in Rhode Island. Galligan is in his 31st year coaching. He is the construction teacher at the EPHS Career & Technical school.

“Considering everything going on we decided to move down to Division II and catch our breath as we return to Division I,” Galligan said. “We’re making progress as our athletes worked hard and looked very good in finishing undefeated in the regular meet season. With distance learning, limited practice time and other COVID issues, I think we did okay. The team feels good looking ahead to next year.”

EPHS Baseball Preview
One can not say that EPHS head baseball coach Bobby Rodericks isn’t enthusiastic about his baseball team. Entering into his 11th season as the Townie coach, Rodericks has high expectations for the 2022 season. “We’ll be competitive and hopefully a mix of returning seniors and underclassmen will bode well for the season,” he said. “Although we still have lots of room for improvement.”

Townie senior southpaw and Captain, Elijah Barber, leads East Providence as their #1 pitcher and will find himself in the top half of the batting order. Barber will play first base when he is not on the mound. Senior Vin Enright, who led the team in RBI’s during the 2021 season, is coming in projected as the 3/4 hitter, and will find time in left field. Enright will replace Barber at first base when he is on the mound. Senior Matt McDuff, who played 3rd base last season, will have an opportunity to do the same this season.

Seniors Jacob Palumbo and Dylan Palombo should be competing for that 3rd and 4th spot in the pitching rotation as well as coming in as relief. Jacob Palumbo will have an opportunity to seize some time in the outfield and in the hitting lineup as one of the top 9 hitters.

Junior Jack McKnight will be co-captain to Barber and remain the Townies starting shortstop and top 3 in the hitting lineup. McKnight is projected to be the #2 pitcher this spring. Junior Manny “Chico” Santos is projected as the starting catcher this season. Santos will be either leadoff or second in the hitting lineup. Junior Ziurel Vargas will have high expectations as a full-time utility player this year as he will be in the outfield, infield and on the mound. Vargas was a swing player last year for JV/Varsity, but this season is projected to be in the everyday lineup at some capacity.

Sophomore Kyler Lorenz, another swing player last season, will be a full-time varsity infielder. Lorenz plays shortstop, second and third equally as good and will be a huge factor for the infield defense this season. Kyler is a leadoff and/or second leadoff hitter (9th) and is projected to provide some offensive spark in the lineup. Sophomore Steven Estrella has worked extremely hard in the offseason and has developed into a projected outfielder for the Townies. He looks to secure a spot this season in the everyday lineup and will be given every opportunity to continue to develop.

“We have an extremely talented 9th grade class this season with high expectations for a lot of success in the Freshmen league. Coming from Martin and Riverside Middle School we have Oliver “DJ” Andrews, Colin Roche, Brian Rutkowski, John Vaughan, James Lynch, Tim Robitaille, Dillon Vieira, Ben Sherman and Dylan Annicelli to name a few notables from last season’s 8th grade class. The coach indicated that these are his freshmen projections and players are still competing for roster slots and specific positions. “There are others who will be named later after tryouts are complete, we’re still working hard for the 2022 Spring season,” Rodericks said.

The rest of Rodericks’ coaching staff includes longtime assistant, Chris Kennedy, who is in his 11th year as junior varsity coach. Past RMS head coach and former Riverside Little League President Brian Rutkowski will be assuming Freshman head coach duties with Coach Frank DeVall stepping down.

Ed Renaud, longtime former Woonsocket head coach, will be going into his 10th season as the Townies varsity bench coach. Two new additions to the staff are former Townie standouts Nick Karalekas and former South Kingstown Rebel standout TJ Lynch. Both are former high school all staters and collegiate ballplayers.

“As a program, we have three solid teams with Freshman, JV and Varsity. Playoffs are always the goal for all teams, with Varsity, we just hope we can win as many games as possible taking it one day at a time. If we develop a solid pitching rotation, we have a good chance of having maximum success with the overall talent we have,” Rodericks added.

East Providence competes in Division I among Rhode Island’s top baseball programs. The school will finish the year playing at Pierce Stadium and will play home games next season at the new turf field on the campus of the new EPHS. Most of this year’s JV games will be played on the road. Freshman games may also be on the road this season as field availability is scarce for now. Additionally, Rodericks is excited to see Bill Black as the new high school principal. “Principal Black was a big proponent of middle school sports and is very supportive and visible as the high school principal. I know he will get to many of our games and the kids really appreciate that. So do the coaches.”

EPHS Track and Field
The new high school campus is already paying dividends as student-athletes are impressed with the athletic facilities for Track & Field. “We have had as many as 39 kids at practice thus far and there are over 50 on the signup form,” said veteran coach Bob Lyons. “I would expect a roster of 25-35 boys when all is said and done. I will keep everyone who comes to practice daily, works hard and follows team rules,” added coach Lyons. The multi-year RI Coach of the Year has been very successful and continues to produce winning teams. The coach doesn’t “cut” kids as long as they work hard and work hard in the classroom.

“This is a fairly large team. Thus far it seems that we have a number of sprinters who will battle it out for four spots on both the 4x100 meter relay and the 4x400 meter relay. Among the group of sprinters are Adam Marschat, Nick Morrison, Kit Ruddock, Justin Fiore, Knaz Ochogwe, Trey Rezendes, Lucas Desousa, Denzy Suazo, Marcus Garedo, Brandon Rowe, Jerry Mercedes, and Angel Roquez.

There could also be someone else – to be determined - who emerges and becomes one of our team's top sprinters,” said Lyons. Also helping is retired teacher and coach Deb Bellamy. “Bellamy is back coaching what is a large group of throwers. Included in this group are: Kameron Threatt, Dan Rocha, Donovan Ivy, John Vaughn, Machar Francis, Jacob Francis, Peter Caron, Brady Pompei, London Coogan and Sebastian Coogan. In the jumps, there are a number of promising candidates looking to join Dylan Slavick and Diondre Valles who are the teams returning and established jumpers,” said Lyons. Lyons is hoping to develop some middle distance and distance runners to round out the team. Potential distance/middle distance runners for EP include Tyler Robinson, Willam Massey, Jayden Delgado, Lucas Santa Cruz, and Jacob Ferreira.

“We are also excited to finally be able to have pole vaulters. Our new track & field facility has a pole vault pit and we hope to introduce the event to team members eager to learn. We are also hoping to develop a few hurdlers to join David Vieira who impressed during the most recent indoor season. I'm excited to have many of the talented basketball and football players join the team this Spring. The team is a nice mixture of upperclassmen, sophomores and freshman and the goal is simply to compete at every contest we are scheduled to attend,” Lyons said.

Lyons was profuse in his appreciation to the community for the new high school campus and athletic facilities. “I am extremely grateful to athletic director Gregg Amore, Mr. Black and the school's administration, members of the school committee, members of the city council, the taxpayers of the city of East Providence and anyone and everyone who played a role in helping make this new track & facility a reality. The new facility will help bring the track & field program back to the level, where we can once again compete for division, class, and state titles,” added the coach.

Track and Field Roster - Last Name First
Abdullah, Yusef; Arias, Joel; Camper, Zamiel; Caron, Peter; Clark,Steven; Coleman-McQueen, Darshan; Collado, Jayvon; Coogan, Sebastian; Coogan, London; Cordeiro, Marco; Costa, Kendrick; Delgado, Jayden; DeSousa, Lucas; Fernandes, Dylan; Ferreira, Jacob; Fiore, Justin; Fancis, Machar; Francis, Jacob; Garedo, Marcus; Gillard, Prayer; Gilliard, Kwamahn; Goncalves, Ethan; Herrera, Darlin; Ivy, Donovan; Marschat, Adam; Massey, William; McDuff, Matthew; Mercedes,Jerry; Monteiro,Nigel; Morrison, Nick; Mulumba, Alex; Ochogwe, Knaz; Pompei, Brady; Ramirez, Isaiah; Rezendes, Trey; Ribeiro, Julian; Rivera,Jonus; Robinson, Tyler;
Rocha, Daniel; Roquez, Angel; Rowe, Brandon; Ruddock, Kitwana; Santa Cruz, Lucas; Silva, William; Slavick, Dylan; Stover, Ryan; Suazo, Denzy; Threatt, Kameron; Valles, Diondre; Vanderworst, Barnett; Vaughn, John; Vieira, David; Vieira, Elijah and Whiting, Maxwell.

EPHS Softball Preview
Head Coach Katie Kenahan is fielding an experienced team with some promising newcomers. Back for East Providence Varsity softball in 2022 is a core group of upperclass contributors from the 2021 season: Seniors- Vianna Chamberlin, Sophia Patterson, Jenett "Gigi" Sosa, Desiree Fernandes, Abby Hollingworth, Daisy Francis, and Hailey Kaiser, and Juniors- Keira Quadros, Ava Mendence, Emma Bergeron, and Josley Sosa. Newcomers joining the Varsity roster this year are junior Mariel De Jesus, Sophomore Mackenzie Jordan, and freshmen Mackenzie Pimental and Emma Boisseau.

Keira Quadros and Sophia Patterson will be on the mound this season. Patterson will be a major contributor in infield play as well, while Keira will spend her time off the mound in the outfield. Both athletes are expected to be a force at the plate.

Returning so many upper-classmen, the Townies should be strong both defensively and at plate.

“Vianna Chamberlin, Gigi Sosa, Ava Mendence, and Josley Sosa are all looking to continue a solid display of skills both offensively and defensively. Mendence and Hollingworth will share duties anchoring the team behind the plate, while Emma Bergeron returns to first base this year, and Desiree Fernandes holds everything together in center field. Seniors Daisy Francis and Hailey Kaiser will be necessary contributors both in the line up and on the field,” said Head Coach Katie Kenahan.

Softball, like baseball, will have to wait until next season to play at the newly constructed fields in front of the school. “All of our home games will be played at Agawam on the back field at the Harry Mutter Softball complex on Pawtucket Avenue,” said Kenahan. “We’re looking forward to our new facility.”

EPHS Swim Team Preview
The 2021-2022 high school swim season was a season of change including coaching changes and in person competitions. Bob Hassan, the Townies new head coach, brings many years of coaching experience to the team. Hassan, who also coaches the East Providence Boys and Girls Club Swim team and the Bayside YMCA Sharks Summer Swim Team, was the head coach of the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School Swim Team for eight years as well as coaching the Grist Mill Swim and Tennis Club Swim Team. The Townies new Assistant Coach is Jamielin Forsythe who swam for the Townies and went on to compete for Springfield College. Forsythe brought a great connection to the past Townie teams.

“Despite having only five girls, the Townies girls team was hard working and determined to do well,” said coach Hassan. “The girls learned to swim all the competitive strokes and successfully competed in events that they had never swam before. While the girls team did not win a single meet, they remained upbeat and worked hard all season. Their hard work paid off as they competed in the relay events at the Rhode Island Interscholastic League State Championships.”

On the boys side, the team had a good season with a record of 3-3 in the dual meet season and a 4th place finish in their division. “The group was led by sophomore Nick Capobianco who had an outstanding season by recording personal best times in all the events that he swam. Capobianco qualified for the RIIL States in the 200-yard Individual Medley and the 100 yard Backstroke. In the Backstroke, Capobianco finished 14th with a personal best time of 1:01.50. The Townie Boys had entries in 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay and the 400 Freestyle Relay. It was the first time that many of the Townie swimmers participated in a meet at the state level.”

Overall, it was a great season for both teams. Both Hassan and Forsythe are looking forward to next season and building the team up by recruiting the incoming 9th graders and the from the upperclassmen.

Swim Team Roster
Seleny Arevalo, So; Ines Benadouda, So; Kevin Bettencourt, F; Ryan Branch, So; Nick Capobianco, So; Britney Carlson, SR; London Coogan, J; Marco Cordeiro, S; Matthew Duckworth, SR; ZoeyEvora, So; Gavin Hanley, F; Jacob Langille,J; Emma LeDuc, JR; Tyler Robinson, J and Maraynah Vasconcelos, SR.

EPHS Lacrosse Preview
Lacrosse is still relatively new to the East Providence sports scene, but the Townies are more competitive each year and many feel optimistic about the upcoming season. New Head Coach Jonathan Monast likes the team’s chances. “We are looking forward to a great season here at EPHS. With two new coaches in the program, I’m joined by Zachary Pangborn as our Assistant Coach. The excitement is building, especially with the new athletic grounds.”
Lacrosse Team Roster:
Alexander Crowley, Senior Captain; Anthony Mello, Sophomore; Austin Arruda, Junior; Austin Crevier, Senior; Braeden Conaty, Sophomore; Gino Maini, Junior; Jake Araujo, Junior; James Cassamas, Sophomore; Kael Conaty, Senior Captain; Lucas Saveoy, Sophomore; Matthew Patrone, Junior Captain; Noah Mensah, Sophomore; Nolan Travossos, Freshman; Ryan Travossos, Sophomore; Riley Feeney, Senior; Tyler Rodrigues, Freshman and Zach Kollett, Freshman.

EPHS Boys Volleyball
Head coach, Dan Cabral is hoping that his boys volleyball team for the 2022 season will build on what they accomplished last year. Optimism is high for the Townies in their new gymnasium. “We return all but one starter from the team last season. With solid senior leadership we look to improve on our record from last season and make the playoffs this year. At this point in the season things are very fluid and all the players are working to find comfort in their roles,” said Cabral. “The team is very deep at multiple positions and it shows in practice. We are moving guys around and working to be the most consistent version of ourselves.” The Townies opened this season at home on April 1 against St Rays in the injury Fund. League play begins April 6th at Woonsocket High.

EPHS Bous Volleyball Roster
Zach Botelho OH, 12; Owen Tellier DS, 12; Jayden Cadwell MH, 11; Xavier Hazard OH, 10; Kyle Dunn S, 12; Rami Jamal Aldine OH, 12; DJ Lepine S, 10; Brett Schwab OH/DS, 12; Ryan Amoroso DS, 12; Grant Wosencroft MH, 12; Jason DoSoito RS, 12; Xavier Graca, OH/RS, 11 and Matthew Duckworth, MH, 12.

City Recreation announces 2022 Dolly Searle golf tournament
The East Providence Recreation Department will hold the 67th annual Dolly Searle Golf Tournament on Monday, June 13, 2022. The event will take place at the Agawam Hunt Club located at 15 Roger Williams Ave. in Rumford, RI.

Entry fee is $400 per foursome and includes greens fees, carts, lunch and prizes.

Registration opens on Friday, April 22. Register online at https://eastprovidence.recdesk.com . In-person registrations will be accepted at the Recreation Department main office, 610 Waterman beginning at 8:30 AM on April 22.

East Providence Recreation accepting Dolly Searle Scholarship Applications
The Department of Recreation is currently accepting applications for the Dorman “Dolly” Searle Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to East Providence residents who are graduating seniors of an accredited high school. Mr. Searle was a longtime East Providence municipal employee who dedicated his time to the development of youth in this community. Awards in the amount of $1,000.00 are available. Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

  • Be a resident of East Providence
  • Be a high school graduate of an accredited high school in June of 2022
  • Plan to major in Recreation/Physical Education, Fine Arts or Public Service at an accredited college
  • Complete the application including a 300-500 word typed essay stating the reasons why the applicant should be considered for this award and delivered to the Recreation Department by 4:00 PM on Friday, April 29, 2022.

To APPLY please visit: https://eastprovidenceri.gov/files-docs/22-03-28/dolly-searle-2022-scholarship-application . For more information, please call the Recreation Department at 401- 435-7511.

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