The Providence Journal is proud to announce the 2024 All-States Boys Tennis first and second teams. The Providence Journal has been naming All-State teams for more than 80 years to recognize and celebrate the top student-athletes across Rhode Island. The Journal Sports staff, with some help from the coaches associations, determines the first- and second-team members. The All-State teams are also posted on the High School Sports Awards page on providence journal.com/sports.
All first-team members were nominees for Player of the Year in that sport, and winners were announced at the High School Sports Awards show held last month at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence, featuring former Oklahoma softball star Nicole Mendes, who is now an ESPN analyst.
In Boys Tennis, the Providence Journal Player of the Year is Josh Steere, of Ponaganset.
2024 Providence Journal All-State Boys Tennis Teams
First Team
SINGLES
Ted Bielecki
Mount St. Charles, Junior
It’s the second straight first-team selection for Bielecki, who had the best season of his career playing for the Mounties. The addition of All-Stater Reyhan Kamal put Bielecki at No. 2 in the ladder and he thrived at the position. In the RIIL singles state championship, he won two matches before being ousted by eventual state champ Joshua Steere of Ponaganset.
Joe Cavanagh
La Salle, Junior
Cavanagh’s showed promise ever since he started playing for the Rams, but busted out big time this past spring. Playing at No. 3, Cavanagh was a guaranteed point for La Salle in every match. In the state singles tournament, Cavanagh upset Ponaganset All-Stater Ethan Clegg in the second round before losing in three sets to Barrington All-Stater Luke Sapolsky in the quarterfinals. He’ll be a dark-horse singles contender next spring for the Rams.
Derek Chen
Moses Brown, Junior
With impressive groundstrokes and elite athleticism, Chen was one of the state’s most underrated stars. A second-team selection as a sophomore, Chen took his game to new heights in his junior season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state singles tournament, where he lost to eventual runner-up Camden DiChiara of Lincoln. Expect big things from Chen in his senior season.
Ethan Clegg
Ponaganset, Senior
This is the second straight first-team appearance for Clegg and third overall and it’s no surprise to see why. Clegg had no issues with the team’s move to Division I and established himself as one of the state’s best No. 2 singles players. He had a solid showing at the state singles tournament, winning his first-round match before losing a three-setter to La Salle’s Joe Cavanagh in the second round. Clegg will continue his playing career at Rhode Island College.
Camden DiChiara
Lincoln, Senior
DiChiara quietly put together one of the best athletic careers the state’s seen, earning his fourth All-State selection — third as a first-teamer — to go along with his first-team basketball selection in the winter. DiChiara had another terrific season atop the Lions’ ladder, beating the best the state had to offer and advancing to his second straight state singles final. DiChiara will continue playing tennis — as well as basketball — when he heads to UMass-Dartmouth in the fall.
Reyhan Kamal
Mount St. Charles, Freshman
In his lone RIIL season — Mount St. Charles has opted out of the league starting in the fall — Kamal had a spring to remember. The freshman came in and didn’t look out of place, earning the top spot in the Mounties’ lineup and putting together a strong showing at the state singles tournament, where he fell in the quarterfinals in a three-set battle to La Salle’s Andrew Smith.
Om Seth
Lincoln, Junior
A second-team selection as a freshman, Seth took a season off but returned with a vengeance this past spring. Playing No. 2 behind All-State teammate Camden DiChiara, Seth didn’t drop a match during the regular season. He won his opening round match at the state singles championship before falling to Barrington’s eventual state semifinalist Luke Sapolsky.
Joshua Steere
Ponaganset, Senior
All Steere did to earn first-team honors was tie a bow on what could be the best four-year career in Ponaganset history. Steere — a four-time All-Stater, with three on the first team — dominated in his lone season in Division I, going undefeated at No. 1 singles, before going on to sweep every match on his way to the RIIL singles state championship, making him the third Chieftain to win the honor. He’ll continue his playing career at Bryant University.
Luke Sapolsky
Barrington, Junior
Sapolsky’s been one of the state’s best players since his freshman season and he certainly didn’t do much to change that thinking this season. Sapolsky came up big all season atop the Eagles’ ladder and was key in the their state championship. The junior made his third straight trip to the semifinals of the singles championship and next spring will be on a short list of favorites to win the title.
Andrew Smith
La Salle, Sophomore
Perhaps the state’s most physically imposing player, the 6-foot-5 sophomore continued to impress with his play on the court to earn his second straight first-team All-State appearance. Smith was a force atop the Rams’ lineup and played his best tennis late in the season. In the state singles tournament, Smith made another semifinal run and will be among the favorites to win the title next spring.
DOUBLES
Gabe Anderson, Barrington, Sophomore
Bryce Kupperman, Barrington, Junior
A title so nice they had to win it twice. Anderson and Kupperman didn’t just defend their state doubles crown, they dominated in doing so. The pair rolled through the regular season, rolled through the bracket on the way to their second-straight doubles state championship and were instrumental the Eagles’ run to the team state championship.
Second Team
Singles
Connor Ainley, Cranston West, Sophomore
Travis Chartier, St. Raphael, Senior
Sam Drolet, North Smithfield, Junior
Easton Heroux, Middletown, Senior
Jeremy Kuo, Barrington, Senior
Dyllon Litmanovich, La Salle, Senior
Charlie Martin, Barrington, Senior
Ethan Montane, Classical, Senior
Elliot Roman, South Kingstown, Junior
Luca Testa, Hendricken, Sophomore
Doubles
David Levy, East Greenwich, Freshman
Liam Levy, East Greenwich, Sophomore
Most Popular
Comments / 0