Blue Devil Sports News
Mary English, one of the Huntington community's biggest Blue Devil sports fans, passed away unexpectedly last Monday. She was 79.
Mrs. English could often be found in the bleachers at Blue Devil lacrosse, football and boys' and girls' basketball games and wrestling meets. She was also a fixture at team banquets.
"She never wore one of our uniforms but she had a soft spot in her heart for Huntington and our student athletes," Superintendent John J. Finello said. "We would glance into the stands and there she would be smiling and cheering on our kids. We will all miss her."
Mrs. English obtained her undergraduate degree at Mount Saint Vincent's College in the Bronx and earned a master's degree at Hofstra University. She taught business education in the Half Hollow Hills school district for 25 years.
Winter Sports Underway
The winter sports season is underway at Huntington High School. Practices kicked-off this past Monday. Michael Kaplan has taken over as head coach of the varsity girls' basketball team after longtime girls' coach Brad Reminick moved over to the boys' varsity position. Reminick is replacing his uncle, Mike Schmitz, who is now an assistant coach at Dowling College.
Blue Devil wrestler Nigel McNeil is seeking to defend the New York State championship he won last winter. Teammate Louis Puca is looking to improve upon his runner-up performance in the 2010 county and state tournaments.
Huntington is also expected to field highly competitive boys' and girls fencing and winter track and field teams.
Greenhill the Great
Sophomore T.J. Greenhill turned in an exceptional season with the Huntington junior varsity football team, helping lift the Blue Devils to a 6-2 mark.
"Greenhill is the breakaway back that we haven't seen in quite some time," said Ron Wilson, who coaches the team along with Todd Jamison. "He's a multi-talented athlete who gave his best effort every time he stepped out on the field."
Greenhill rushed 194 times for 1,470 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 132 yards and notched nine two-point conversions. He fumbled only four times while handling the ball 209 times.
Greenhill played cornerback on defense and recorded 24 solo tackles, including two for a loss. He also intercepted a pass. He was voted MVP or Offensive Player of the Game on six different occasions.
"He has great vision and was a huge part of our success on the offensive side of the ball," Wilson said.
College Lax Signings
Six Huntington High School seniors recently signed NCAA letters of intent to attend various college on lacrosse scholarships. The group includes Patrick White (Hofstra Univ.), Nick Saputo (Drexel Univ.), Emilie Pugliese (High Point Univ.), Emma Hayes-Hurley (Binghamton Univ.), Sarah Ehrman (Stony Brook University) and Shea Scully (Univ. of Bridgeport).