Blue Devil Unified Bowling Rolls Strikes

Huntington High School’s varsity Unified co-ed bowling team enjoyed its fair share of strikes during a recently completed season that saw the roster swell to 23 enthusiastic athletes. The Blue Devils notched victories over Smithtown, Half Hollow Hills and John H. Glenn.

“All of the athletes on this team worked so hard at practice and games each day,” said Lauren Blackburn, a Huntington High School physical education who coaches the Blue Devils. “Almost every athlete improved their bowling scores from the start of the season to the end of the season. It was great to see athletes getting to bowl with their peers and encourage each other every game. Everyone had a great time at practices and games and left with big smiles.”

Huntington’s Unified bowling team practiced and held its home meets at Larkfield Lanes in East Northport. Unified bowling is a varsity level sport that features Special Olympians paired with general education students, who serve as teammates and assistants on the co-ed roster. Players earn varsity athletic letters.

This year’s Blue Devil roster included Julianna Ackerman, Felipe Avila Sanchez, Analia Bonilla, Camilla D’Anna, Connor DiBenedetto, Luca DiPietro, Nica DiPietro, Alisha Harvey, Talia Hayden, Hannah Kaufman, Manpreet Kaur, Daniel McDlellan, Dennis McCook, Dylan McKean, Alexander Morris, Isabella Morris, Ella Palatnek, Sebastian Romero, Jack Ruthkowski, Roodes Similien, Maria Verfenstein, Avante Williams-Samuels and Tyler Peck.

“This team is so special,” Blackburn said. “Everyone worked so hard every day to improve their bowling, but just as important, everyone had a great time. I loved getting to see friendships being formed at the alley and the constant high fives when athletes bowled a strike or a spare. I love this team.”

Looking ahead to next year, Blackburn expects interest to continue running high along with success. “Almost all of the athletes are set to return next year for another great season of bowling,” the coach said.