Homecoming 2023 King and Queen David Dax and Reese Rinaldi. (Darin Reed photo.)
Homecoming 2023 King and Queen David Dax and Reese Rinaldi. (Darin Reed photo.)

We Are Huntington

October 10, 2023

The Huntington High School community came together for a great week of homecoming activities. Not even heavy rain and strong winds dampened the spirits and enthusiasm of the crowd at Saturday’s football game.

Homecoming 2023 included special event days at the high school throughout the week and a Thursday night festival that drew upwards of 2,000 folks of all ages. A huge bonfire was ignited by the Huntington Manor Fire Department that left the crowd in awe as it lit up the campus. About 50 different clubs and organizations manned tables and booths at the festival, offering participants a variety of foods and beverages and a chance to play games.

Friday afternoon’s high school pep rally featured the introduction of every varsity fall team and short skits by most of them along with performances by the chamber choir, Highsteppers dance team, United Amigos and the Blue Devil marching band.

Due to an expected storm on Saturday, which did, indeed, materialize, the Homecoming King and Queen were announced during the pep rally.

Royal court nominees for queen included Zaida Correal, Reese Rinaldi, Camilla D’Anna and Jazmyne Greene. Nominees for king featured Josiah Freeman, David Dax, Jake Amend and Jonathan Granito.

Mr. Dax and Ms. Rinaldi were crowned this year’s king and queen by Huntington High School Principal Brenden Cusack and Assistant Superintendent Beth McCoy to the applause of more than 1,500 students, faculty and staff members at Blue Devil Stadium.

The construction of this year’s parade floats was an all-day affair last Friday. Student government officers and volunteers from physical education classes helped build each of the four class floats throughout the day.

Since heavy rain was expected and three of the four floats were of such height they wouldn’t fit into one of the garages behind the school and would most likely be destroyed overnight, judging typically performed on Saturday morning prior to the parade down Main Street was completed on Friday night, with Superintendent Christian Bowen among the panel of judges.

The Class of 2025 captured first place in the float competition with the seniors, sophomores and freshmen rounding out the field in order of finish.

Saturday morning’s parade was cancelled due to the terrible weather marking the first time in more than 30 years the Homecoming Day march couldn’t be held. But students turned out in droves for the 2 p.m. football game against Northport. About 100 Blue Devil football alumni also attended the game and watched from a large party tent. The former players picked up jerseys with their high school number emblazoned on it.

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Thomas Kline shows his enthusiasm at the pep rally. (Darin Reed photo.)

“Although the weather did not fully cooperate with us for our homecoming festivities, we were still able to enjoy many traditions over the course of the weekend,” Mr. Cusack said. “Our fourth annual homecoming bonfire was absolutely spectacular, with record numbers in attendance. We are so grateful for the support of the Huntington Manor Fire Department, our custodial and buildings and grounds teams, our security staff, the club advisors and all the students who organized the fundraisers for their clubs. I’d also like to give a big thank you to Anthony Troffa, who offered his DJ talents for all to enjoy. The chamber choir, United Amigos and the Highsteppers all put on great performances as well. It was an amazing night.”

Saturday’s parade was to include representatives from all eight schools in Huntington UFSD and be led by the Blue Devil marching band, but rain prevented it from being held this year.

“We were truly disappointed that we could not move forward with our Homecoming Day parade during the weekend and that the band could not perform at halftime,” Mr. Cusack said. “We are very proud of our Highsteppers who were able to brave the slashing rain and chill to put on their halftime performance. While our varsity football team did not have the result they were hoping for, they certainly played their hearts out despite the weather. It was wonderful to see so many Huntington High School alumni come back home to cheer on the team and celebrate the 100th year of Huntington football.”

Homecoming was organized by the student government, including its school-wide executive board and faculty advisors Danielle Raguzin and David Moriarty. Individual classes and their officers, members and advisors were also heavily involved in the event, especially the building of the parade floats.

Mr. Cusack and his assistants, Gamal Smith and Patricia Avelli all worked hard to coordinate the week’s activities and pull it all off in smooth fashion.

Planning has already commenced on Homecoming 2024. The date will be announced late next spring.