Blue Devil alumni are mourning the loss of former Huntington High School coaching great Al Donofrio, who passed away this week after a long life that stretched nearly 100 years.
Coach Donofrio worked at Huntington High School for 35 years as a physical education teacher, coach and athletic director. In seven years as head football coach he compiled a mark of 29-20-2 for a .588 winning percentage and developed several legendary players between 1954 and 1960.
The 1958 Blue Devils won the co-league championship after reeling off five straight mid-season victories over Northport (19-0), Lindenhurst (27-7), Bay Shore (14-0), Amityville (21-14) and Walt Whitman (13-12). The Blue Devils, who outscored their opponents 119-80, dropped the opening game to Riverhead (25-19) and lost the season finale to powerful Port Jefferson (22-6).
Coach Donofrio attended many of the Huntington Booster Club’s annual fall galas in recent years and was always surrounded by his former players, who adored him.
Blue Devils Win Millrose Games Gold
The Huntington boys’ indoor track team’s 4x400m relay won the Millrose Games’ Long Island division championship on Saturday afternoon at the Armory in Manhattan.
Sophomores CJ Kiviat, Isaiah James and Anthony Joseph circled the oval in 3:20.65 to win the gold medal. Brentwood, Freeport, Uniondale, Elmont and Copiague all trailed far behind. The six relay teams qualified for the Millrose Games finals earlier this winter.
The Blue Devils’ time was the second fastest in New York this season and the fourth fastest in the United States.
Kiviat (50.67 seconds), James (50.51) and Joseph (50.25) all turned in great performances and consistent times, but Smith put it in overtime, by running his anchor leg in 49.23 seconds.
Blue Devils Lose on Last Second Free Throw
The Huntington girls’ basketball team found itself trailing by double digs after three quarters before mounting an impressive run in the final frame before falling to Comsewogue in the final regular season game, 32-31.
The Blue Devils were off balance through most of the game, which played out in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium before a loud Senior Day crowd. Huntington was behind 7-6 after the first quarter and 16-11 at halftime. Comsewogue took a 30-19 lead into the final eight minutes.
Huntington went on a 12-2 fourth quarter run and nearly pulled out the victory. Tied 31-31, Comsewogue’s Julianna Watson sank a free throw with 0.1 seconds remaining to win the game for the Warriors.
Abby Maichin led Huntington with eight points. Katie Browne had six points and Paige Lennon added five points. Makaylah Frazier and Emily Plachta scored four points each. Junie Nosile had two points. Christie Baade and Jordan Forte both scored a point from the free throw line.
Dan Danziger Drops Team High 15 Points
The Huntington boys’ basketball team fell to host Comsewogue in the final regular season game, 72-44.
The Blue Devils trailed 15-6 after the first quarter and 32-17 at halftime. Huntington was unable to cut its deficit in the second half. Dan Danziger had a team high 15 points. Lex Colato had 12 points and Max Rentsch added 11 points. Ian Ardell had four points and Matt Girimonti and Jack Monahan both scored a point from the free throw line.
Alum Taylor Moreno Stars in Goal against NCAA Champs
Huntington alum Taylor Moreno helped lead the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill women’s lacrosse team to an 18-7 victory over NCAA champion James Madison University last Saturday.
A member of Huntington’s Class of 2016, Moreno was brilliant in goal, stopping 10 shots. She was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference pre-season team after a spectacular redshirt freshman season that saw he capture honorable mention All-American honors.
The former Blue Devil star is regarded as one of the top goalies in the country this year.
Luca D’Anna Wins Jimmy Nelson 4th Man Hero Award
Huntington freshman Luca D’Anna won the Jimmy Nelson 4th Man Hero Award at the Suffolk fencing tournament at Newfield last Saturday.
Mr. D’Anna is only the second Blue Devil fencer to ever win the award, which is presented in memory of a former Centereach fencer who was killed on September 11, 2001 at One World Trade Center while responding to the terrorist attack as a Port Authority police officer.
Suffolk fencing coaches nominated athletes on their team for the award. Mr. Nelson was a “dedicated team player and extremely loyal” and the award in his honor is given those who share these qualities.
