Huntington Sports News
J. Taylor Finley Middle School's first winter sports season saw 92 participants on the four Falcon teams. The eighth grade girls' basketball team had 41 players tryout and 20 make the final roster. The seventh grade squad drew 50 potential players to tryouts with a final squad of 16. 20 students tried out for the boys' volleyball team and 16 made the roster. The wrestling team kept all 40 boys who signed up for the squad.
Kocis Starts Strong
Karly Kocis started off her college lacrosse career in splendid fashion, recording nine second half saves to help St. Bonaventure top Bucknell, 14-10. Kocis graduated last June from Huntington High School.
As a Blue Devil senior, the 5'6 Kocis compiled 136 saves and 98 completed clears. As a junior she had 326 saves and 173 completed clears. She was named team MVP two times and also played tennis, ice hockey and basketball.
Kocis is majoring in sports studies at St. Bonaventure.
Trustees Appoint Zaharios
Huntington School Board members have appointed Kevin Zaharios as the speed/strength and conditioning advisor at Huntington High School for the spring season. He will be paid a stipend of $4,000.
Winter Track Forecast
The Huntington boys' winter track and field team finished second in the league and fourth in the county this past season. What does the future look like?
"We are a very young team," head coach Ron Wilson said. "However, these youngsters are full of talent and potential. We are excited about the team in general because they are young and will be returning next year."
Tyriek Johnson, Dan McQuade and Matt Whitcher will be back in the 55m hurdles. The top returning throwers are Trayvon Toney, Shaheem Lewis, Matteo McNeil, Conor Reilly and Dan Plant. Distance runners Jared Thorbourne and Ryan Ackermann are expected to be among the best in the county. Sprinters Y'Majesty Allen, Giancarlo Puello and Joshua Watkins should amount to an especially swift trio.
Wilson called his squad "a team blessed with and exceptional group of talented athletes. We performed well in every aspect of the game. We were dominant in the sprints, jumps, discus/shot put and the relays."
Girls' Basketball Wraps
Huntington varsity girls' basketball coach Mike Kaplan recently spent time reviewing his rookie season. The Blue Devils finished with a 9-10 mark and advanced to the Suffolk Class AA playoffs.
"They were a hardworking, dedicated and competitive group of individuals," Kaplan said about the team. "They really came together and did everything that I asked of them with 100 percent effort."
Huntington is losing Sarah Ehrman, Emma Hayes-Hurley, Courtney O'Bryan, Shealyn Scully, Isabelle Senat and Jackie Waldron to graduation.
"We have 11 returning players who are all willing to work hard in the off-season," Kaplan said. "This year was a transition moving into a more competitive league. I have confidence that the returning players will be well-prepared for next season."
Kieran Mock Talks
Huntington head wrestling coach Kieran Mock said his team was "very hardworking" and "peaked late in the season." The Blue Devils finished the season with a 10-2 record in dual meets, placing third in the league standings and third in the Section XI tournament.
Mock said the Blue Devils displayed "team efforts all the time." He foresees Huntington fielding a young team next winter. Key returnees are expected to be Nick Lupi, Corey Jamison, Anthony Puca, John Arceri, Brandon Mendez and John Mallouk.