Ava Mendence

This is a snapshot of an East Providence High School 2023 graduate Ava Mendence.  Miss Mendence is an example of hard work, talent, family support and what EPHS offers one if you choose to accept it.  The ReporterToday first became aware of this student when a young Mendence showed up years ago at the Townie Summer Baseball Camp and basically she said wanted to play baseball.  That little girl mostly outplayed the boys and the rest is history. Ava’s dad, Paul Mendence was a junior high football captain in 1994 and played at EPHS also wrestling a season. He has contributed back to EP as a well-respected coach, especially for youth softball and the EPHS team. It has been a family affair as Ava’s mom, Lisa, is a great photographer and is never without a camera at a game.  Ava is now a Townie graduate and heading off to study and play inter-collegiate sports.

Mendence has grown from a young girl who excelled in a Townie summer baseball camp, with mostly boys, several years ago, to a senior captain and one of the best softball players in Rhode Island high school.  Ava Mendence has been a shining example of Townie Pride. The Townie catcher, pitcher and all-around student-athlete is one of the Townies who led East Providence softball into an impressive Division I playoff race with hopes of a state championship. In the meantime, Miss Mendence has excelled in the classroom with many academic and athletic awards and will attend Roger Williams University in the Fall. While hitting the books at RWU she will also play college softball.

There was a time when some in East Providence thought that Ava could play baseball with the boys’ team - and she probably could have – but she made the right decision and excelled in women’s softball. While Townie coach Katie Kenahan will surely miss Ava and the other talented seniors who are moving on, the 2023 season isn’t over yet. “I can’t say enough things about Ava and this amazing group of girls. I’m going to miss them so much,” said coach Kenahan.

“I’ve enjoyed playing softball at EPHS since my freshman year and I joined the HERD (Townie student support group) in my junior year,” said Mendence.  “I became beyond excited when the HERD became an official club at school.  I would learn what it was like to attend a high school sports game and support others, since we lost so much of that due to Covid,” she added.

“Being a part of the HERD caused me to meet many new friends across all classes.  It has made my senior year very special.  Mr. Andrade (teacher advisor to HERD) has had our backs with the crazy ideas we’ve had and it made things special.  The school environment has changed for the better and all classes are involved, not just upperclassmen.  The HERD has taught me to be proud of my school and where I’m from. I definitely will take that to college with me.”

Ava Mendence will major in elementary education at Roger Williams and wants to come back to teach and coach in East Providence.  She was also the senior class secretary as well as an athlete and honors student.  A lot of Townies are hoping that she achieves that goal.  “ The school, the HERD, well everyone will miss Ava,” said HERD advisor Joseph Andrade.  “We hope to have more students like her.”