Blue Devils to Field Unified Basketball & Bowling Teams

Huntington High School will field Unified co-ed basketball and bowling teams this year. The program is sanctioned by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and Section XI.

Unified basketball and bowling are both varsity level sports that feature Special Olympians paired with general education students who serve as teammates and assistants on the co-ed rosters.

This will mark the first year of Section XI officially sanctioning the Unified bowling program. Huntington piloted a Unified bowling team last winter.

Coaches will meet remotely with each other on February 13. Practice will commence on February 27 at Larkfield Lanes in East Northport. Matches will be played on March 7, 9, 14, 16, 21 and 23.

A recent survey of athletic directors conducted by Section XI indicates at least 16 Suffolk high schools are planning to participate in the Unified bowling season.

Huntington will again send a Unified basketball team onto the court. The team will be based at either J. Taylor Finley Middle School or the high school. The first day of the season is April 17. Coaches of competing high schools will meet that same day to review policies and procedures.

Basketball games are scheduled for May 2, 4, 9, 11, 16 and 18. The county Final Four playoff round is slated for May 23. Two teams will play for the Suffolk crown on May 25 at Longwood.

More than 30 high schools have indicated they plan to participate in Unified basketball next spring.

Information about the two Blue Devil Unified teams will be shared on Huntington UFSD’s website at www.hufsd.edu. Questions about the Unified program can be director of athletic director Jim Hoops at jhoops@hufsd.edu.