Blue Devil Gymnasts Ready to Make Statement

Five Blue Devil girls gymnasts are well on their way to enjoying a spectacular fall season on the combined Huntington/Harborfields team. All five are excellent and capable of helping to lift their team to another undefeated campaign.

The Huntington contingent includes eighth graders Grace Bartasi and Olivia Koiyet, juniors Valerie Ferreira and Lizzy James and senior Kaitlyn Sansiviero.

Bartasi was All-County as a seventh grader and James captured first place in floor exercise at the county coaches invitational and finished third in balance beam. Sansiviero placed second in vault and fourth in floor exercise also at the county coaches invitational.

After competing on the varsity as a seventh grader, Koiyet is even stronger this fall. Ferreira is an experienced newcomer to the team and expected to make an immediate impact.

“The Huntington/Harborfields girls’ varsity gymnastics team was undefeated league champions last fall in our first season as a combined squad,” Lazzarini said. “We are looking forward to another great season this year. The team is filled with very talented student-athletes who are a pleasure to coach.”

The 2023 schedule features home contests against Smithtown, Babylon, East Islip and Sachem and away meets at Ward Melville, Middle Country, William Floyd/Eastport-South Manor, Longwood/Westhampton Beach, Bellport/Shoreham-Wading River, Patchogue-Medford and North Babylon.

Lazzarini works alongside Tornadoes coach Matthew Canty. Last year the duo developed a strong squad, defeating Babylon, Hauppauge, Lindenhurst, Walt Whitman, Copiague and Hampton Bays/Southampton in league meets to finish with a 6-0 mark.