After falling behind 12-0 at the start of the game, the Huntington girls’ basketball team methodically clawed its way out of the hole against visiting Glen Cove. By halftime, the Blue Devils trailed 17-15 and after going on a 9-2 early second half run, took a 24-19 lead, but it wouldn’t last.
The two teams traded the lead several times before the game went into overtime. Blue Devil freshman Emily Plachta scored 10 of her 14 points in the extra frame, but Glen Cove still manage to topple Huntington in the non-league contest, 52-48.
Blue Devil sophomore Jordan Forte turned in a career performance to lead Huntington with 15 points. Katie Browne and Paige Lennon had six points each. Abby Maichin had two points and Gianna Forte and Junie Nosile added two points each.
Blue Devils Set New Record in Rhode Island . . .
Huntington 4x400m relay champions Johnathan Smith, Isaiah James, Anthony Joseph and CJ Kiviat.
The Huntington boys’ indoor track team set a new record in the freshman/sophomore 1600m sprint medley relay at the 10th Annual Rhode Island Classes at Providence Career & Technical Academy.
Huntington’s CJ Kiviat, Nasir Youngblood, Josiah Melendez and Isaiah James coasted to victory in 3:49.42, easily shattering the previous meet record of 3:54.
Joe Petrone to the Rescue . . .
Joe Petrone won the deciding match at 106 lbs. to lift the Huntington varsity wrestling team to a recent 35-32 league victory over visiting North Babylon.
Petrone pinned his foe in 38 seconds to seal the Blue Devils’ come from behind win. Huntington also got victories from Billy Burton (14-2 decision at 113 lbs.), Liam Lennon (16-2 decision at 120 lbs.), Ethan Franciscovich (7-1 decision at 138 lbs.), Ryan Baker (4:18 pin at 145 lbs.), Robert Smith (1-0 decision at 170 lbs.), Jon Koumas (3-1 decision at 182 lbs.) and Tazadon Smith (46 second pin at 220 lbs.).
Blue Devil Girls’ Soccer Eyes 2019 . . .
The Huntington varsity girls’ soccer team appears well positioned for the fall 2019 season. The Blue Devils will be returning current freshmen Katie Browne, Teddi Carnesi, Makaylah Frazier, Edelyn Garcia and Emily Plachta; sophomores Jordan Forte, Charlotte Maggio and Julia Steinberg and juniors Lena Annunziata, Riva Bergman, Beanna Cumella, Alexandra Gerbavsits, Caroline Hartough, Marissa Stafford and Jennifer Zeron-Salmeron.
Huntington is losing seniors Yaidelis Acevedo, Isabella Floro, Natalie Gonzalez, Paige Lennon, Kiara Rafailan, Jaqueline Salgado, Alyssa Sorensen, Julia Tesoriero and Jenna Yabroudy.
Stafford will be returning as an All-County forward after tallying six goals as a junior. Carnesi, who notched three goals, is expected to play a much larger role on the team next fall after garnering All-League honors as a freshman. “Teddi will learn to control the game in the future,” said head coach John Walsh, who was assisted by Vincent Tannazzo.
Lennon also scored three goals and she will be missed next year. The teenager is headed to the US Military Academy at West Point where she plans to play on the women’s lacrosse team. “Paige played any position to help the team,” Walsh said.
Several players from this past fall’s junior varsity team are also expected to be promoted to the 2019 varsity squad.
Freshman Max Rentsch Drops 15 Points . . .
The Huntington varsity boys’ basketball team outscored visiting Newfield in the second half, 29-27, but that wasn’t enough for erase a large first half deficit as the Blue Devils fell in a Suffolk League III game, 55-42.
Huntington trailed after eighth minutes, 11-2 and at halftime, 28-13. The Blue Devils went on a 7-0 run to open the second half and cut into Newfield’s lead several times but were never able to overcome it.
Freshman Max Rentsch dropped 15 points and Lex Colato and Dan Danziger added 10 points each. Matt Girimonti had four points and Chad Rowe added three points. Rentsch had a pair of three-pointers and Colato, Danziger and Rowe also connected from beyond the arc.
Abby Maichin Scores 19 Points to Pace H-ton . . .
Junior Abby Maichin scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Huntington varsity girls’ basketball team to a 39-20 victory over visiting Newfield in Suffolk League III.
Maichin scored 13 first half points to help the Blue Devils build a 27-11 halftime lead. Freshman Emily Plachta had eight points and Christie Baade, Katie Browne, Makaylah Frazier, Paige Lennon, Charlotte Maggio and Holly Wright all scored two points each.
Robbie Smith Wins in Overtime . . .
Huntington freshman Robbie Smith won the most exciting match of the night, nipping Newfield’s Devin Aviles in overtime, 4-2 at 170 lbs., but the Blue Devils fell in a league dual meet, 53-27.
Huntington also received wins from Joe Petrone (pin in 34 seconds at 106 lbs.), Charlie O’Rourke (pin in 1:26 at 126 lbs.), Tazadon Smith (pin in 3:14 at 220 lbs.) and Aidan Mrotzek (pin in 3:26 at 285 lbs.).
Dan Danziger Enjoys Big Afternoon . . .
The Huntington varsity boys’ basketball team took 23-19 lead into halftime against visiting Harborfields, but couldn’t hold on as the Tornadoes toppled the Blue Devils, 54-44 in a non-league game.
Huntington took a four point halftime advanced after outscoring Harborfields in the second quarter, 15-11. But the Tornadoes went on a 35-21 second half run to lock-up the victory.
Junior Dan Danziger led Huntington with 16 points. Junior Lex Colato dropped nine points and freshman Max Rentsch added six points. John Paci had four points and Jack Monahan scored two points.
Exciting 300m Race Finish . . .
A pair of Blue Devil track stars were involved in one of the most exciting race finishes of the indoor season when Huntington recently competed in a crossover meet at Suffolk-West in Brentwood.
Competing in a field of 42 in the 300m dash, Huntington senior Johnathan Smith finished first in a time of 36.49 seconds with Brentwood senior Frank Grey (36.77) and Blue Devil sophomore CJ Kiviat (36.83) both close behind.
Boys’ Swimmers Keep Winning . . .
The combined Huntington/Harborfields boys’ swimming and diving team keeps winning this winter.
The squad, which is coached by longtime Blue Devil mentor Meg McConnell is currently 4-0 after turning back a stiff challenge by West Islip, 53-47.
Some of the top individual performances by Huntington swimmers were turned in by Jonathan Larice, Chris Weber and Nate Gamboa.
Larice won the 200 yard freestyle while Weber captured the 100 yard butterfly and was second in the 50 yard freestyle. Gamboa was first in the 100 yard backstroke and second in the 100 yard freestyle.
H-ton Sophomore Shines . . .
Huntington sophomore Isaiah James has turned in many outstanding performances this winter for the Blue Devils.
At a recent crossover meet, James finished second in a field of 38. The Blue Devil star was nipped at the finish line by Commack senior Howard Svensson.
Svensson completed the race in 2:42.64, a mere 21/100ths of a second ahead of James, who finished in 2:42.85.
Young Blue Devil Fencers Sharp at Challenge . . .
Huntington High School’s young fencers were sharp at the Ward Melville Underclassmen Challenge. The competition gave fencers in grades 7-10 who aren’t varsity starters an opportunity to show what they can do. Awards were presented to the top fencers in each grade, although they squared off against opponents from a mixture of grades.
Huntington’s top performances in the competition at Ward Melville included:
Boys’ Epee
8th grade: Liam Tucker, 1st place
9th grade: James Kretschmer, 1st place
Boys’ Sabre
10th grade: Miles Tierney, 3rd place
Boys’ Foil
9th grade: Luca D’Anna, 6th place
10th grade: John Holly, 6th place
Girls’ Epee
9th grade: Emily Roberts, 1st place
9th grade: Michelle Lopez, 3rd place
9th grade: Sophia Matheus, 7th place
10th grade: Aileen Lopez, 6th place
Girls’ Foil
7th grade: Uma Shtrom, Champion
9th grade: Madelyn Bavaro, 1st place
Girls’ Sabre
10th grade: Adora Colay, 1st place
10th grade: Gemma Pellegrini, 2nd place
10th grade: Rebecca Hoffmann, 3rd place
10th grade: Emma Guba, 4th place
Huntington juniors Nick Kretschmer and Riley Tucker came along to help out with the young Blue Devils. “We are working our way back,” fourth year head coach Michelle O’Brien said.
H-ton Strong in Shot Put . . .
The Huntington boys’ indoor track and field team placed three throwers in the top seven in shot put at a recent meet at Suffolk-West in Brentwood.
Senior Eric Sands finished second in the event with junior Gary Barash placing fourth and sophomore Mekai Butts earning seventh place. The field included 28 throwers.
Blue Devil 4x400m Relay Wins Gold . . .
Huntington’s 4x400m indoor relay team is aiming for a spot in the state championships this winter. The Blue Devils easily won at a recent crossover meet.
Huntington sophomores Jason Turner, CJ Kiviat and Anthony Joseph ran the first three legs of the race before senior Johnathan Smith took the baton home, easily turning in the best time in a field of 12 relay teams.
H-ton Underclassmen Win Relay in Close Finish . . .
Huntington seventh grader Jahmar Francis, freshmen Jason Turner and Josiah Melendez and sophomore Trevan Meagher turned in a great race at the 10th Annual Rhode Island Classic at Providence Career & Technical Academy, nipping Providence’s Classical High School in the freshman/sophomore 4x400m relay.
The Blue Devils were timed at 3:54.33 to edge Classical, which finished in 3:55.47. The rest of the field trailed far in the distance.
“This might have been the most exciting race of the day,” head coach Ron Wilson said. “On the second lap of the first leg runners there was a huge pile up with runners falling in the stretch. Jahmar Francis managed to keep his balance and hand the baton off to second leg Trevan Meagher who kept pace, keeping us in second. Third leg freshman Josiah Melendez made up some ground catching up to the leaders and handed the baton to anchor Jason Turner, who closed on the final lap to insure Huntington won the gold.”
Mike Marinello Named Finley Girls’ Track Coach . . .
Huntington High School physical education teacher Michael Marinello has been appointed to serve at the J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ track and field team’s head coach. Carrie Postel was previously appointed the team’s assistant coach.
Marinello has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 1995. He earlier taught at Western Suffolk BOCES for five years. A graduate of Sachem High School, he earned an undergraduate degree at Springfield College in physical education and a master’s degree at Stony Brook University in liberal studies with a concentration in health science. He has coached high school golf, high school and middle school wrestling, JV tennis and middle school baseball and boys’ track and field.
Marinello is a CPR and First Aid trainer. He has also been a volunteer emergency medical technician.
Postel has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 2001. A graduate of Sachem North High School, she obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees from Long Island University-C.W. Post and Touro College, respectively. Before coming to the district, she was a part-time health and physical education teacher in the neighboring Elwood School District. She also previously worked as a permanent substitute teacher in Sachem.
Postel has coached varsity, junior varsity and middle school girl’s volleyball and middle school girl’s track and field.
Great Day for Huntington Boys’ Track & Field . . .
The Blue Devil boys’ indoor track and field team made a statement of sorts at the 10th Annual Rhode Island Classic at Providence Career & Technical Academy. Highlights for Huntington include:
- The 4x400m relay consisting of Isaiah James, Anthony Joseph, CJ Kiviat and Johnathan Smith captured the gold medal, winning the race by more than six seconds.
- Johnathan Smith finished second in the 300m dash, just 16/100 ths off the first place finisher’s time.
- Sophomore Aidan Heller placed fifth in the 3000m run.
- Jaden Bholan, Joe Garetano and Trevan Meagher finished second in the high jump relay, which is a compilation of the heights cleared of the three athletes competing in the event from each high school.
- Eric Sands, Gary Barash and Mekai Butts combined to place second in the shot put relay.
- Jaylen Bush finished fifth in the 55m hurdles finals.
- Rahliek Thomason-Jackson placed eighth in the triple jump.
Most Exciting H-ton Wrestling Matches . . .
In a 51-30 non-league victory over Hampton Bays, the most exciting matches for the Huntington wrestling team included Aedan McDonald’s first period pin in 1:15 at 132 lbs. and Robert Smith’s 2-1 decision at 170 lbs.
