Huntington Girls Swimmers Back in Pool

Huntington High School is the host school for what is known in Section XI as a “super team” in the sport of girls’ swimming and diving. Joining the Blue Devils are Walt Whitman, Harborfields and John H. Glenn.

The Huntington contingent on this year’s roster numbers 10 athletes, including seventh graders Helena Sullivan and Lauren Reed; eighth grader Mackenzie McKay; freshmen Gemma Bedell, Alison Hahn, Avery Joynt, Sena Knopf and Ella Van Horn; sophomore Jessica Lee and junior Isabelle Gregorio.

With no seniors among the Blue Devils and only one junior, Huntington appears to be well on its to building a very strong group.

The Blue Devils are coached by Christopher Helmke and Meg McConnell, who specializes in diving. No permanent captains have been named. Instead, meet captains are being utilized.

The Blue Devils and their teammates trained outdoors at the Bay Club of Huntington and the Centerport Yacht Club for several weeks before beginning practice sessions at the YMCA, which the team will call home for the rest of the season.

While at the Centerport Yacht Club, the super team jumped into the pool to raise money for Swim Across America’s annual fundraising campaign to fight cancer.

The Blue Devils are their teammates raised several thousand dollars that will be used as part of the large pot of monies raised across the country for immunotherapy and brain cancer research, clinical trials and more.

Team members secured pledges and swam for 90 minutes in the Centerport Yacht Club’s outdoor pool, doing laps in various styles and enjoying a variety of relays.

Helmke is optimistic the team will have a successful season.