Hannah Burnett, a member of Huntington High School’s Class of 2013, scored the overtime game-winner as the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s women’s lacrosse team rallied for a 14-13 win over Ohio State last Saturday. The former Blue Devil great tallied four goals and an assist on the day.
Burnett was a splendid athlete for Huntington, capturing All-County honors in both soccer and lacrosse and playing two years with the basketball team. By the time she graduated in June 2013 she was one of the top scorers in the history of the Blue Devil lacrosse program.
A redshirt senior who is majoring in sports management, Burnett has 19 goals and four assists in six games this season for UMass. She’s taken 35 shots, won a pair of draw controls and scooped up eight ground balls.
Keily Rivas Captures All-American Honors
Huntington junior Keily Rivas captured All-American honors in the 1-mile race-walk at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Championships at the Armory in Manhattan on Saturday morning.
Huntington junior Keily Rivas
Rivas finished third in the country, trailing only champion Taylor Ewart of Beavercreek, Ohio and Margaret Atwood of Holtsville. The Blue Devil star circled the track in 7:25.53.
Huntington senior Nicole Arenth closed her indoor career in fine fashion, placing seventh in the nation in the same race. The teenager fell just one spot and four seconds short of being able to claim All-American recognition.
Ms. Arenth completed the challenging race in a time of 7:58.20.
“I came to the meet thinking maybe I could possibly place top six,” Rivas said. “When my race began I knew I had to get a good start and knew I needed to work through it. It was very difficult, but I had a positive mindset during my race. I also knew that it was all about having perseverance. I knew if gave it my all that I could get a good time and place. When it came down to the end of the race I had to tell myself, ‘you gotta give it all you got no matter how much it hurts’ because I worked hard to get here. When I came through that finish line I had the greatest relief and was absolutely proud of myself and couldn’t even believe I placed third in the nation. I was shocked myself. I didn’t expect to place third, but I did it. Anything is possible.”
Blue Devil coaches Mark Jackson and Bob Nill have been working with Rivas throughout the winter season. She owns some of the fastest race-walk times in the state this year
“I’m absolutely grateful for my coaches helping with getting me where I needed to be,” Rivas said. Another person who has helped is Nicole Arenth. She has pushed me to get better times and she was the one who taught me how to race-walk in my freshman year. The motivation and support I receive from my teammates, friends and family is what has helped to get me where I am today. Thankfully, I was not the only one at the nationals. My race-walk buddy Nicole also competed and placed seventh in the nation and had a personal record. I am very proud of the both of us and the amazing experience we had together.”
Arenth was pumped up after her sensational showing in the nationals. “It was a really amazing experience to go and compete at nationals,” she said. “I originally was really nervous about it, but Keily, along with my other teammates and coaches, reassured me that I had been training for this practically all my four years. It was an honor to go and represent Huntington High School at the meet. I’m appreciative of the support of my teammates and coaches and how they help challenge me. I honestly don’t think I could have done it without them!”
Second Assistant Boys’ Lax Coach Named
The Huntington School Board has approved Andy Gutierrez to work as a varsity level assistant boys’ lacrosse coach. He played at Nassau Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh and was the head coach at Roosevelt High School for eight years. He has also coached in the Recon lacrosse program.
Gutierrez developed Roosevelt into a perennial playoff contender. The team was considered to be one of Nassau’s most improved squads twice during his tenure with the program.
New Blue Devil Coaches
Shawn Dunn has been named the Blue Devil crew team’s assistant varsity coach. Eric Santos has been approved to work as the Huntington girls’ track and field team’s assistant varsity coach.
Dennis Walker Classic Cancelled
Scheduling difficulties and conflicts will prevent the Huntington boys’ spring track and field team from holding the Dennis Walker Classic this year. Several possible dates fell through according to Blue Devils head coach Ronald Wilson.
Walker coached the Blue Devil boys’ cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field teams for three decades until his retirement in June 2007. “We hope to be able to hold the Dennis Walker Classic again next spring,” Wilson said.
Walker attended Adelphi University where he was a member of the one-mile relay team that in January 1972 shattered the world indoor record not once, but twice in a two week span.
After graduating from Adelphi in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Walker worked as a teacher and later a dean of students at Huntington High School, where he also coached cross country, winter and spring track.
Boys’ Winter Track & Field Honors
The Huntington indoor track and field team enjoyed many fine performances during the winter season. A long list of athletes captured post-season honors. The group included:
All League: Anthony Joseph, Jonathan Smith, Brian Pierre, Sam Bergman, Clay Jamison, Nasir Youngblood, Jason Turner, Jaylen Bush, Eric Sands, Levi Leach, Alex, Labella, Michael Drake, Joe Garetano, Jaden Bholan, Justin Stevens, Isaiah James
All County: Johnathan Smith, Anthony Joseph, Alex Labella, Jason Turner, Jaylen Bush, Sam Bergman, Eric Sands
All Long Island: Eric Sands, Levi Leach, Anthony Joseph, Jason Turner, Jaylen Bush, Alex Labella