Blue Devil JV Serves Way to Winning Mark

The Huntington High School junior varsity girls’ tennis team compiled a 6-5 mark this fall against the JV teams of many of Suffolk’s top programs.

The Blue Devils were captained by Bridget Callery and Grace Gordon. The team was coached by Washington Primary School physical education teacher Eric Mininni.

“We are a young team, but feisty,” Mininni said. “They never gave up on themselves or the team. They continued to work hard all year-round and made significant gains in their tennis skills.”

Huntington’s top players included both Callery and Gordon along with Naomi Lyons and Emma Polinsky. Two skilled freshmen, Callery and Gordon teamed up in No. 1 doubles and served their way to a 4-3 record.

“Bridget is a talented and hardworking player who brings all she has to every match,” Mininni said. “Grace Gordon improved her skills throughout the entire season and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.”

Lyons was 4-0 in third singles and 3-1 in No. 2 doubles playing alongside fellow freshman Emma Polinsky.

“Naomi just wins,” Mininni said. “Regardless of the situation, she would always come up big for us. She’s an absolute pleasure to coach.”

Polinsky shined, too. “Emma is one of the hardest working players that I have ever coached,” Mininni said. “She is always giving her all, wanting to get better.”

The Blue Devil JV dropped its first three matches, “but the team never got down on themselves and finally seized the opportunity to get its first win against Northport,” Mininni said. “It gave us confidence and from that point on we won six-of-eight meets.”

Looking ahead, Mininni expects to see many new faces on the team next year. “I feel like I will be losing a lot of these girls to the varsity team next season,” he said. “Whoever I will be able to keep on JV, I will be very fortunate to have. This was a great group of girls to coach.”