Huntington UFSD is exploring the possibility of developing a varsity girls’ golf team. It would be a first for the Blue Devils. Step number one in the process is determining how much interest there is in the sport.
Last fall more than a dozen girls came forward and expressed their interest in playing on a Huntington girls’ golf team. But how firm is that interest and does it extend beyond those who initially stepped forward?
Since the Blue Devils already offer golf as a varsity level sport in the fall, both boys and girls are already eligible to play on it. The current team plays against other schools that have boys teams, since that is when boys’ golf is played.
Should Huntington offer a girls’ golf team, the Blue Devils would play a spring schedule against other Suffolk girls’ high school teams. The boys’ team would continue in the fall season.
Blue Devil boys’ golf coach, Michael Marinello has agreed to coach a girls’ golf team should Huntington sponsor it for the spring 2023 season. In the meantime, Marinello is interested in developing an intramural program for the girls, so they can refine their skills and get ready for interscholastic competition next year.
The intramural program would include lessons by Marinello, use of the high school golf simulator and trips to a local driving range and putting green. Intramurals would be held one or two days a week this spring. The intramural program and participation in it is viewed as crucial to Huntington having a successful experience in the sport.
Interested? The first step is to send Marinello a message at mmarinello@hufsd.edu or visit him in the high school athletic office where he works as a physical education teacher and department coordinator.
Huntington UFSD officials have discussed where a Blue Devil girls’ golf team would practice and play its matches and have reached out to town officials about course availability.
“Our boys’ team won the league championship last fall and there isn’t any reason why we couldn’t develop a winning girls’ program, too,” Marinello said. “Everyone is welcome.”