The two boys’ soccer teams at J. Taylor Finley Middle School are both proverbial powerhouses this fall. The squads are coached by physical education teachers Travis Smith and Alex Nelson and each team entered the week undefeated.
The two Finley squads won all seven games they played prior to this week. Most of the wins were decisive, demonstrating the talent and skill level of this year’s teams and players.
The teams practice at Finley and play their games on the lower athletic field at Woodhull Intermediate School. Goals were moved to the field and a 10 foot high fence was installed along the north end of the field to contain the balls.
The coaches and players love their new game site and they have been very successful at home. A portable outdoor bathroom is also at the site for the convenience of fans and players.
Finley’s school colors are blue and white, similar to Huntington High School. Teams at both levels are nicknamed the Blue Devils.
Nelson coaches the Finley “blue” team. The squad includes seventh graders Robert Campbell, Antony Cano Lopez, Merlin Cerrato Mejia, Christian Correal, Ronan Driscoll, Finnian Driscoll, Alexis Gomez Hernandez, Greyson Henderson, Eli Levi, Andrew Lopez, Jason Perdomo, Jesse Perez, Massimiliano Terrado and Michael Tucker; and eighth graders Alex Bonilla Mejia, Gueniel Elysee, Kevin Gordon, Manuel Guardado, Christian Luca, Milton Maldonado, Jonathan Morales Salguero, Jeffrey Murillo Ramirez, Jonathan Osorio Bonilla, Evan Persampire, Junior Quintanilla Gonzalez, Angel Salvador, Josue Velasquez Ramirez and Derek Weinstein.
Smith coaches the Finley “white” team. The roster features seventh graders Justin Cahn, Joseph Conklin, Steven Contreras Moreira, Jack Corcoran, William Donaghy, Jayson Flores Menjivar, Townsel Henry, Bryan Lopez Ramirez, Ezra Oddoye, Jose Quintanilla, Joseph Raymundo Ruiz, Quinn Rinaldi, Samuel Rivera Umanzor, Charles Stanforth, Jack Steinberg and Javier Velasquez Mancia; and eighth graders Byron Araujo Yanes, Max Carino, Jeffrey Flores Andrade, Angel Flores Flores, Xavier Garcia Granados, Dago Garcia Lazo, Hamilton Giron Hernandez, Matthew James, Marin Mullaly, Alexander Ordonez Flores, John Reyes-Alvarez, Luca Terrado and Rudis Villatoro Benitez.
“We have many outstanding players on both Finley teams this fall,” Smith said. “They are exceptionally skilled and very athletic. They absolutely love soccer and love playing for Finley.”