EP’s Kiera Mullen wins Top Girls Volleyball Player in RI
Keira Mullen, a senior, was named the Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year for 2025. The announcement came from Gatorade in a formal press statement: “This is the 40th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes. Gatorade announced Mullen of East Providence High School is the 2024-25 Gatorade Rhode Island Volleyball Player of the Year. Mullen is the third Gatorade Rhode Island Volleyball Player of the Year to be chosen from East Providence High School. The Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the court, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Mullen as Rhode Island’s best high school volleyball player and she joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes such as April Ross (1999-00, Newport Harbor High School, Ca.), Kerri Walsh Jennings (1995-96, Archbishop Mitty High School, Ca.) and Ayden Ames (2023-24, Prosper High School, Texas).”
The 5-foot-9 junior outside hitter and setter led the Townies to a 14-5 record and a berth in the Division I state semifinals. Mullen recorded 241 assists, 203 kills and 182 digs. The 2024 Division I Player of the Year as named by the Rhode Island Coaches Association, she also compiled 61 aces and 48 blocks. A two-time First Team All-State selection, she earned Division II Player of the Year honors in 2023 before East Providence moved up a classification. Mullen was also a 2025 First Team All-State and All-Division player. A National Honor Society member, Mullen has volunteered locally organizing a food drive for the homeless in association with the Bread of Life International Worship Center in East Providence. “She was one of the most dynamic players in the league this year,” said Jonathan Bartlett, head coach at Coventry High School. “She’s explosive in terms of her hitting and blocking and she’s also a constant server and a solid setter.”
“We are extremely proud of Keira, what an awesome award for a wonderful student-athlete at EPHS,” said Townie Athletic Director Alex Butler. Butler is also Mullen’s volleyball coach. “Keira was a hard worker and a student leader on and off the court. We congratulate her and her family,” added Butler.
Mullen has maintained a 3.90 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states across 12 different high school sports – football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field – and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations.
EPHS Boys Indoor Track & Field
The East Providence High School Boys Indoor Track & Field team continue to make a run at a state championship on February 15th, with a 9-1 record. The Townies only loss came in a January 13th meet against Barrington High School. EP had impressive January wins against Shea, Tolman, Pilgrim, Cranston East and Cumberland. In a January 21st Divisional Championship, the team finished in a strong 2nd place overall. Finishing in 4th place at the Headley Division Championship and placing for the Townies during the meet were the following: Jack Pawlik 2nd in the 55 meter, 5th in the 300 meter, and 6th in the long jump. Jietan Ruiz 3rd in the 55 meter, Justine Jardine 4th in the 300 meter. Julius Cortes 6th in the 300 meter, Nolan Travassos 7th in the 55 meter hurdles, the 4x200 meter consisting of Jack Pawlik, Justin Jardine, Julius Cortes, and Jietan Ruiz 2nd place, the 4x400 meter consisting of Justin Jardine, Julius Cortes, Will Massey, and Zack Morreira 4th place, and the 4x800 meter consisting of Will Massey, Luke Grimley, Will Anthony, and Daniel Lukusa 5th place.
“We did well at the East Coast Invitational against top athletes from the East Coast of the United States,” said Head Coach Bob Lyons. “The following boys placed well, Jack Pawlik 4th place in the 55 meter, the 4x 200 meter relay consisting of Jietan Ruiz, Jack Pawlik, Julius Cortes, and Justin Jardine, 7th place.”
“After finishing our dual meet season in 2nd place in their final dual meet, the Townies defeated Cumberland and lost to Barrington. During the meet seasonal best times were achieved by Will Anthony and Luke Grimley in the 600 meter, Julius Cortes and Drake Silva in the 300 meter, Jacob Libertore in the 55-meter hurdles, Max Pawlik in the long jump, Dan Lukusa in the 1000 meter, and the 4x200 meter relay team consisting of Jietan Ruiz, Jack Pawlik, Julius Cortes, and Zekiah Hopper. The team now moves on to the championship portion of the season on February 15 at the Providence Career & Technical Academy in Providence (next to Central/Classical high schools.”
Other action moving the team to 8-0, were wins over Pilgrim, Tolman, Shea, and Cranston East. I ndividual winners for the Townies were: the 4x400 relay consisting of Zack Moreira, Will Massey, Julius Cortes, and Justin Jardine, Jack Pawlik in the 55 meter, Nolan Travassos in the 55-meter-high hurdles & the high jump, Will Anthony in the 3000 meter, and the 4x200 meter relay team consisting of Jietan Ruiz, Julius Cortes, Jack Pawlik, and Justin Jardine.
The EPHS Girls Indoor Track & Field team is also at 9-1 heading into the state finals. Their only loss also came from Barrington High. The girls defeated Narragansett, Shea, Tolman, Pilgrim, Cranston East and Cumberland. Outstanding performers were Nazarae Phillip, Kathryn Patalano, Abigail Raphael, Trinity Johnson Carter, Ryley Souto, Layla Bates, Giana Dos Santos, and Audrey Lepine. They will also compete in the state finals at PCTA on February 15th.
EPHS Boys Basketball
Townie boys basketball is slowly moving along with an 8-7 record as of the end of January. East Providence lost to top rated Hendricken in an away game on January 29th by a 60-52 score. The loss followed two wins against Cumberland 59-46 and Rogers 48-40. Other January wins for EP were over Smithfield, North Kingstown and Lincoln. In the 56-48 win over North Kingstown, Tyler Gomez led all scorers with 22 points and Franklin Carela Lopez added 17 for the Townies.
EPHS Girls Basketball
As of the end of January, the girls basketball squat is at 10-4 with four wins in a row. The Townies defeated Smithfield, Cumberland, Lincoln and Smithfield. In the 46-41 thrilling win over Cumberland High, Trinity Provencher had a double-double scoring 13 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to help secure the victory. In a 41-38 win over Rogers High, Kat Amado hit a go-ahead three-point basket with 45 seconds left to give East Providence the lead for good. In a 43-38 win over Mt Hope High School, Zarae Hall and Harmonie McDowell each scored nine points and Kat Amado had 8 to lead the Townies. Audrey Bernard and Trinity Provencher each had six rebounds.
EPHS Wrestling
The wrestling team continued to do well with a 45-30 victory over Cranston West last month. Leading the way for the Townies with pins at their weight class were Jayden Cabral, Melvin Hernandez and Brendon Bernard. The team had a tri-met with Bishop Hendricken and Hope High School. The Townies lost their first match to Hendricken in a tough fought battle and rebounded defeating Hope later in the night. Leading the way for the Townies with 2 wins were Ayden Schifino, Charles Phillips and Machar Francis. In their 59-22 victory over Coventry, leading the way for the Townies was Jayden Cabral, Melvin Hernandez and Jordan Carl. The team earned a second-place finish at the John D. Gorman Invitational Wrestling Tournament. Placing in the tournament and leading the way for the Townies were Jason Brown with a 6th place finish and Joey Vitolo, Brennan Bernard, and Ray Lonardo with a 4th place finish. Going to the finals and taking second place were Ayden Schifino, Deacon McShane and Jordan Carl. Winning the gold medal with their first-place finishes were Baha Akdimer and Charles Phillips. In an earlier tri-meet with North Providence and Central, EP split a hard fought battle losing to North Providence and came back to defeat Central in the last match of the night. Having outstanding nights for the Townies were Deacon McShane at 113, Ayden Schifino at 126, Charles Phillips at 138, Baha Akidmer at 175, Jordan Carl at 190 and Max DiStefano at 285. The team took home a third-place finish in the Brendan Grant Memorial Tournament. Placing in the tournament and leading the way for the Townies were Jordan Carl with a 4th place finish and Baha Akdimer with a 3rd place finish. Going to the finals and taking second place was Joey Vitolo. Winning the gold medal with their first-place finishes were Charles Phillips and Ayden Schifino.
Over the Winter break the team competed in the Manny Vinhateiro Holiday Duals. The team went 3-0, defeating Barrington High School 44-29, East Greenwich 62-12 and South Kingstown 62-12. Having a great day for the Townies and going undefeated were Aydin Schifino, Jayden Cabral, Jason Brown and Baha Akdimer. Vinhateiro was a wrestler at EPHS and Rhode Island College and later became Principal of EPHS and then Superintendent of Schools.
Townie Hockey Sydney Olson Honored
EPHS student Sydney Olson was selected to play in the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame high school showcase of players. She represents East Providence High School in an interscholastic league East Bay High girls co-op team. In a game last year Olson scored four goals. The game will be played on February 2nd, 1 PM at Schneider Arena at Providence College.
EPHS Co-op Gymnastics
The gymnastics team continues to show steady improvements as the season progresses. Senior Carter Bessette earned her states qualifying score for floor category, Kyla Benoit scored an 8.15 on vault and Jade Taswell and Marianna Vargas turned in strong meet performances. In other action new team members Avery Bastanzi and Kyla Benoit turned in solid performances also on floor and vault exercises.
EPHS Girls & Boys Swim
The girls swim defeated Mt. Hope 55-38 while the boys team lost to Mt. Hope 64-22. In the girls team 66-25 win over Pilgrim, Sadie Gagnon won the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Butterfly. Caroline Welch won the 50 Freestyle and 500 Freestyle. Laina Fonseca won the 100 Freestyle. Abigail Ellison won the 100 Backstroke. Maura Roche won the 100 Breaststroke. The Girls also took first place in all three relays. In the boys team 50-27 win over Pilgrim, Jaden Bettencourt won the 200 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle. Kevin Bettencourt won the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Breaststroke. Kaden Vaughn won the 100 Butterfly and 500 Freestyle. Jamison Sydney won the 100 Backstroke. The Boys also took first place in all three relays. The girls are undefeated with a 7-0 record heading into the division championship on 2/14 and state championship meet on 3/2/25. Divisionals will be held at Roger Williams University and the State Championship at Brown University.
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