Royersford native Joey Graziadei selected as new Bachelor lead

Royersford native Joey Graziadei was announced Monday night as the new lead of “The Bachelor.”

The 28-year-old tennis teaching professional will be the focal point for Season 28 of ABC’s dating reality series after Graziadei was not selected by Charity Lawson in the Aug. 21 season finale of “The Bachelorette.”

Graziadei, a 2013 graduate of Spring-Ford, became a fan favorite during his time on “The Bachelorette”, which included a visit to Royersford and Collegeville for the contestant’s hometown visit. During the trip, Graziadei gave Lawson a tennis lesson at Kinetix Racquet Club in Fairview Village.

Graziadei played tennis at Spring-Ford and was a past Pioneer Athletic Conference doubles champion, in 2012 as a junior teaming with Tyler Triolo. He went on to graduate from West Chester University, where he was also a member of the tennis team.

Graziadei resides in Hawaii where he is a tennis teaching professional and Lifestyle and Experience Ambassador for Kukuiula Development Company in Koloa, Hawaii, according to his LinkedIn.

“I’m looking for someone that’s just themselves. Someone that challenges me. Someone to do life with,” Graziadei told host Jesse Palmer after the announcement.

Season 28 of “The Bachelor” will not air until 2024.