The East Providence High School swim teams returned to their 2022-23 Division III regular season schedules in earnest last week following the holiday recess, dropping both outings to visiting Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy at the East Providence Boys & Girls Club Friday, Jan. 6. The boys fell by a 40-37 score while the girls lost 45-31.

Each of the Townies saw their records move to 1-1 on the still young season.

London Coogan, Kevin Bettencourt and Nick Capobianco accounted for the individual victories for the Townies in the boys’ meet.

Coogan won the 50 freestyle in 29.02 seconds. Bettencourt claimed the 100 free in 1:02.51. And Capobianco took the 100 backstroke in 1:04.35.

Ryan Branch later joined the aforementioned trio on East Providence’s winning 400 free relay team, which concluded the meet with a victorious time of 4:20.23.

Ines Benadouda was the lone EPHS swimmer to win multiple events on the day, claiming the girls’ 100 back (1:14.14) and the 100 free (1:05.66).

Seleny Arevalo chipped in the other win for the locals, taking the 50 free in 35.42.

The pair also teamed with Emma LeDuc and Cassie Dulude to win the meet-ending 400 free relay in 5:28.19.

Of note as well, with only three swimmers of both genders vying in the event, BVP’s Katie Chiapetta beat a pair of boys in a combined 200 meter individual medley swim.

The sophomore clocked a time of 2:20.87 to easily best the times of each of her male competitors, 2:22.24 being the better of the two.

Chiapetta said doesn’t often swim against boys so it’s likely the first time she’s beaten a male in a high school meet though she has on numerous occasions clocked the best time in the 200 IM when compared to other male swimmers.