The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ volleyball team has been practicing hard and is ready for action as the competitive season gets underway this week.
Finley is coached by Todd Donaghy, who is also the Blue Devil varsity team’s head coach. A member of Huntington’s Class of 1989, Mr. Donaghy earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education at Long Island University’s Southampton College and a master’s degree at Walden University. He is employed as a physical education teacher at George Ryan Middle School in Queens.
The Finley squad includes seventh graders Riley Ackerman, Conor Boyle, Matthew Girardi, Vincent Grassi and Joseph Toscano and eighth graders Matthew Beasley, Jack Cesare, Robert Eriksen, Ethan Evans, Jaheim Hawkins, Paul Knieriem, Nicholas Mazzarella, Jack O’Brien, Luke Rinaldi, Jackson Schmidt and Walter Vohs IV.
Finley’s schedule features 10 matches, including home and away contests with Hauppauge, Lindenhurst, West Islip-Udall, West Islip-Beach and Commack.
Donaghy is striving to build a competitive boys’ volleyball program in the district. Having a strong foundation at Finley is a key part of his plans. The Falcons are hoping to win plenty of matches this winter. The roster is filled with many skilled players.