Sad summer is ending? Here are 10 RI high school athletes who will make you happy fall is on the way
High school sports are coming.
Monday marks the official start of the high school football season and the following week, the rest of the state’s fall sports officially begin their seasons. Two weeks later, everyone will start playing games that matter.
There’s no debate about summer being the best season and, while it’s sad that it’s coming to an end, the excitement of what fall will bring will help ease the pain a little. There’s plenty to look forward to and, just as a little tease to the 2023 fall season, here are the athletes I’m looking forward to seeing once games start.
Ellie Bishop, North Kingstown
Girls Soccer
While the reigning Providence Journal Girls Soccer Player of the Year seems like an obvious choice, Bishop’s compete level is what will make her fun to watch this fall. She’s acknowledged that there are players in the state with better soccer skills and she has to make up for it with energy and desire. Her motor is unmatched, she never takes a play off and it leads to goals — and plenty of them. Bishop has a killer instinct unlike any athlete in Rhode Island and that’s a big reason why North Kingstown is favored to three-peat this fall.
Ashley Brousseau and Lila Stilley, Moses Brown
Field Hockey
As freshmen, the duo were instrumental in the Quakers’ ending East Greenwich’s three-year title run and winning the program’s first since 2014. The duo worked well in their roles last fall — Stilley was a First Team All-Stater and Brousseau earned Second Team honors — but expect them to take over the game this fall as they become bona fide stars. With Brousseau and Stilley leading the way — not to mention First Team All-Stater Kat Gauvin — the Quakers’ dynasty could be starting now.
Terrence Campbell, La Salle
Football
Campbell’s sophomore season was beyond impressive and with what he did on the field, you can let your imagination run wild for what could happen this fall. While Campbell is more noticeable with the football in his hands — like when he ran for 133 yards on 13 carries in the second half of the Rams’ Super Bowl win over Hendricken — his play at linebacker is where he’s at his best. Campbell runs like a thoroughbred, hits like a dump truck and is going to be tough for the rest of Rhode Island to stop.
More: Change in attitude helped Justin Denson take his game to places he'd always imagined
Alexa Clark, South Kingstown
Girls Tennis
You don’t even need to watch Clark play to enjoy her work — you can just listen. There hasn’t been a player in Rhode Island who hits the ball with the velocity of Clark since Alex Geremia in 2008, which happens to be the last time a Rebel won the state singles title. She lost in the state’s semifinals to the eventual state champ as a freshman, so Clark’s deadly groundstrokes and powerful serve will have her as a favorite to win it all this season.
More: Pierce's point clinches title for Ponaganset in girls D-II tennis
Annie Draper and Ella Maack, North Kingstown
Girls Volleyball
The two were dominant last fall, bringing the state title back to North Kingstown for the fifth time in six years. Draper is a devastating hitter and her versatility makes her the most complete hitter in all of Rhode Island. Maack’s the perfect setter — great size, great athleticism, great mind and can pass or hit as well as any player on the floor. The Skippers will be favorites to win this year and it should be fun to watch the senior duo carry this team.
Cole Francis and Madeline O’Neill, Narragansett
Boys and Girls Cross Country
Cross country was dominated by an incredible senior class last fall, giving many athletes a chance to make a name for themselves this season. Francis and O’Neill were both First Team All-Staters last season and now have a chance to make some history. The two will be among the favorites to win their respective state titles, something that hasn’t been done by one school in the same season since Jamey Vetelino and Emily Selvifio won at Westerly in 1993.
More: Meet the top RI high school Boys Cross Country runners
Max Jackson, La Salle
Boys Soccer
He’s a two-time state champ and three-time All-Stater on the golf course, but Jackson is a pretty good soccer player as well. Verbally committed to golf at Rutgers, Jackson doesn’t need to play soccer but does because it’s something he loves doing. More of the state’s one-sport athletes should take note of this because, despite what AAU, club and travel coaches would tell you, you can play multiple sports and not hurt your college hopes and dreams. Jackson showed All-State-caliber play last fall and don’t be surprised if he puts together his best season yet.
More: Hendricken-La Salle boys soccer showdown hints at a postseason rematch
Emma Mueller, Barrington
Field Hockey
Perhaps the state’s most underrated player — she was a Journal First Team All-Stater but second team for the coaches — Mueller plays with the fire every athlete needs to succeed. Her fearlessness showed up last fall matched up against East Greenwich’s Alex Mega, where Mueller made it clear she’s not about to back down to anyone. Expect Mueller to take over as the Eagles’ offensive leader this spring and have the team fighting for a spot in the state title game.
David Rodriguez, Mount Pleasant
Football
After a prep year at Loomis in Connecticut last fall, Rodriguez has come back to Rhode Island and is about to set the state on fire. Make no mistake about it, the junior will be the best receiver in the state and that kind of talent is going to be tough for any of the Division II defenses to stop. Rodriguez has Division I offers from all over the country and, in April, posted his top five choices to his Instagram account — Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State and South Carolina. Probably should check him out now before he’s playing big-time ball on Saturdays.
More: High School Football - Barrington at Mount Pleasant
Rushaune Vilane, Hendricken
Football
Vilane earned plenty of hype after an offer from URI during his freshman season, but he’s more than lived up to it. He took one for the team as a sophomore, switching to offensive line, but was the state’s best defensive lineman in his junior season last fall. Vilane is a nightmare coming off the edge and is more than capable of playing linebacker. Offenses tend to avoid going in his direction, but he’ll make more than a few plays when they do this season.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: These 10 RI high school athletes should have you excited for the fall
