Following a one year lapse, the J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ tennis team could possibly be making a comeback.
Huntington UFSD is interested in reinstating the Finley girls’ tennis program if there is enough interest among incoming seventh and eighth graders. A team existed for decades before it went on hiatus in a cost saving move. But with many parents asking for the program to be reestablished, the district is willing if enough players are interested to fill out a complete lineup.
Incoming seventh and eighth grade parents can send a message to Huntington athletic director Jim Hoops (jhoops@hufsd.edu) to indicate their daughter is interested in playing tennis for Finley.
A tennis team requires four singles players and three doubles teams consisting of two players each for a total of 10 players in all. So that’s the minimum number.
Huntington UFSD is renovating Finley’s three court complex this summer, including repairing all the cracks and repainting the courts in their entirety.
If the team is reinstated it will be coached by Woodhull Intermediate School teacher Eric Triolo, who was Finley’s coach prior to the program going on hiatus.
Students can sign up with the nurse on the first two days of school, Thursday and Friday, September 9-10. Mr. Triolo said he will hold a team meeting on Friday afternoon in the LGI/auditorium and share forms and information about the team. The first day of practice will be Monday, September 13 at 3 p.m.
Practices will be held Monday through Friday on the Finley tennis courts. A 10 meet schedule will be played against local middle school teams.
Here is the tentative schedule:
Sept. 28 Oldfield at Finley at 4 p.m.
Sept. 30 Finley at Hauppauge at 4 p.m.
October 5 Elwood at Finley at 4:15 p.m.
October 7 Finley at Stimson at 4 p.m.
October 12 Northport at Finley at 4:30 p.m.
October 14 East Northport at Finley at 4:30 p.m.
October 19 Finley at Commack at 4 p.m.
October 21 Finley at Oldfield at 4 p.m.
October 26 Hauppauge at Finley at 4 p.m.
October 28 Finley at Elwood at 4 p.m.