Blue Devil Unified Teams Get Championship Banner

Huntington UFSD recently reinforced its commitment to the Blue Devil Unified Sports program by affixing a Unified championship banner to the Huntington High School gymnasium wall alongside all the other sports banners listed league, conference, county and state championships.

The Blue Devil Unified basketball team went 8-0 last spring. As far as the district is concerned that’s the equivalent of winning a league title, so 2024 is listed under League on the banner. The same banner also includes ample space to list Unified bowling titles.

Huntington’s Unified basketball team is coached by Finley physical education teacher Jordan Ioviero. Huntington High School physical education teacher Lauren Blackburn coaches the Blue Devil Unified bowling team.

Blue Devil athletic department officials are now studying the feasibility of adding a third Unified varsity sport: Bocce. The New York State Public High School Athletic Assn. recently approved rules for Unified bocce, effectively giving schools a green light to add the sport. Huntington is interested in adding it for the fall season.

Huntington district and building level administrators and the seven Huntington School Board members have all thrown their support behind the Blue Devils Unified sports program, including providing funding for coaches, uniforms, supplies, travel, officiating and supervision at events.

“Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences,” according to the organization. “Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.”

Like all Unified Sports teams, Huntington Unified bowling and basketball team are comprised of students of similar ages. “That makes practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all,” according to Special Olympics. “Having sport in common is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas are swept away.”

Special Olympics sent Huntington officials three red banners recognizing the high school as a Unified Champion school last fall. One of the banners is affixed to the fencing surrounding the track at Blue Devil Stadium.

Huntington’s Unified bowling team utilizes Larkfield Lanes in East Northport. Huntington’s Unified basketball team practices and plays its home games at the high school.

Huntington UFSD also added a Unified Physical Education course for the 2024/25 school year. Two sections of the course run alongside Adapted Physical Education classes. Students in the two courses work together, with the Unified PE students helping to facilitate activities.