EPHS starts 2019 boys’ tennis season strongly

Townies enjoy return to Division III following realignment

By Mike Rego
Posted 4/12/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School has made an exemplary return to the realigned Division III ranks over the first few matches of the 2019 regular season, completing last week with …

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EPHS starts 2019 boys’ tennis season strongly

Townies enjoy return to Division III following realignment

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School has made an exemplary return to the realigned Division III ranks over the first few matches of the 2019 regular season, completing last week with an unblemished 4-0 record.

The Townies went just 2-11 a season ago and only 3-23 the past two years competing in the state’s middle tier.

East Providence was placed in the revamped Division III ranks along with Burrillville, Central, Coventry, Cranston East, Exeter/West Greenwich, Pilgrim, Providence Country Day, St. Raphael, Scituate, Shea/Tolman co-op, Westerly and Woonsocket. Johnston is a noteworthy entry, being a first-year program.

E.P. bookended a pair of 4-3 victories over Cranston East in its season opener and its latest over Johnston around 5-1 and 7-0 wins over Pilgrim and Central, respectively, to date.

Like the Townies, Providence Country Day, Scituate and Exeter-West Greenwich dropped down a peg on the boys’ tennis ladder and are considered to be among the potential top sides in the realigned D-III this spring.

“I think we can be playoff bound this year, looking at where we are now,” said EPHS head coach Paul Amaral. “We have 13 matches. We’re looking at Scituate, Exeter-West Greenwich to be some of the better teams. In terms of the playoffs, I think we’ll be in the mix.”

The Townies began the season with a roster of 12 members, which allows them to fill all 10 positions in the lineup, a convenience not always enjoyed by Amaral the past couple of years and a reason he’s encouraged about the potential for the 2019 season.

“The fact that we have a full roster is a good thing. We gave up third doubles a lot last year and the year before,” said Amaral.

Senior and newcomer Constantino Capobianco joins the team at the top of the EPHS order, playing first singles. He’s followed by junior Jaren Zollo, sophomore Louis Mesi and sophomore Jackson Ponte in slots 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Capobianco is 2-2 individually so far while Zollo, Mesi and Ponte entered the new week unbeaten.

Sophomore Alex Proulx and senior Nick Zakrzewski form the first doubles tandem and began this week undefeated in four outings. Sophomore Nate Perry and junior Victor Correa are the No. 2 team. Sophomores Brandon Charette and Kendrick Dias play from the third spot. Sophomore Antonio Melo and freshman Isaiah Willis round out the 2019 contingent.

“Having a full roster is nice and a pleasant surprise has been Constantino playing one for us,” Amaral said of Capobianco, an accomplished wrestler for the Townies during his high school career. “This is his first year playing as a senior. He just jumped in. He got the bug playing with his dad. He played a lot over last summer. He brings an enthusiasm, an energy with him to the group. They’re meshing very well.”

Besides refining their basic knowledge of the game and the requisite shots, Amaral said another thing his trying to teach his players is to be a cohesive unit.

“They have to learn to be a team. A lot of these kids don’t play other sports,” Amaral explained. “That’s part of the process, too, not just the skills stuff. They have to learn about helping their teammates out, being positive. Everyone has a nickname for either other in a positive way, which is nice. It’s about having fun. We’re really trying to emphasize that aspect about coming out here, having fun.”

The new surroundings and fast start helps make the Townies enthusiastic and gives them hope they can earn a postseason bid. something they haven’t done since they were previously at the D-III level back in 2016.

“We’re going to be competitive this year with the move to Division III,” Amaral added. “That’s a big difference. It already shows. The kids are excited.”

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.