Planning is underway to create the first Blue Devil varsity girls’ flag football and boys’ and girls’ badminton teams. All three new teams would play during the 2023 spring season.
If plans come to fruition, Huntington UFSD would boast 34 varsity, 13 junior varsity and 23 middle school level teams, including four co-ed teams.
Huntington is considering creating a varsity flag football team.
The possibility of the new teams comes on the heels of an already major expansion in athletic opportunities for students at J. Taylor Finley Middle School and Huntington High School.
New varsity girls’ golf, co-ed Unified basketball and bowling, co-ed bowling and girls’ gymnastics teams along with middle school boys’ volleyball and second teams in girls’ soccer, girls’ volleyball, boys’ basketball and girls’ basketball have already been approved for either the current school year or 2022/23.
Intramural girls’ flag football programs at both Finley and the high school this spring drew more than five dozen participants and set the stage for where the Blue Devils are headed.
This spring, eight Suffolk high schools participated in a pilot league with Walt Whitman winning the county title and advancing to the Long Island championship game.
An enthusiastic group of Huntington girls’ is hoping to form the first ever varsity Blue Devil flag football team. Athletic department officials are currently discussing who could coach the team. If the new program is created, a head coach and assistant coach will most likely be appointed to lead the squad.
Any Blue Devil flag football team would play its games at Huntington High School. Practices would be held at the high school and perhaps at other district schools or even a nearby town park. The district is in the process of acquiring junior size footballs, flags and belts and uniforms. Intramurals would continue at Finley each spring to keep interest running high.
Students presented the athletic department with a petition asking for creation of varsity boys’ and girls’ badminton teams. The sport has been extremely popular in the high school and middle school physical education programs. More than 30 Suffolk high schools sponsor badminton teams.
Similar to the case of flag football, Blue Devil athletic officials are acquiring the gear needed to offer badminton as an interscholastic sports, including the standards (base and poles) and nets to create four courts along with racquets, birdies, uniforms, etc.
If the two new varsity badminton teams are created, they are expected to practice and compete at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School. A head coach and assistant coach would oversee the two teams. A possible head coach has been identified.
Students interested in playing on the varsity flag football and varsity boys’ and girls’ badminton teams can reach out to the athletic office or send an email to athletic director Jim Hoops at jhoops@hufsd.edu.