Huntington Blue Devils are Off and Running

The Huntington High School boys’ cross country team is off and running. Practice commenced earlier this week after the runners received medical clearance. The Blue Devils are coached by Southdown School physical education teacher John Romano.

The roster includes sophomores Ronan Driscoll, Eric Heinz, Eli Levi, Adan Ntambwe and Townsel Henry; junior Juan Erazos Turcios and seniors John Joyce and Michael Mendikyan.

The league schedule includes meets against West Islip, North Babylon, Northport, Deer Park and Bellport. There are several invitational competitions and then a series of late season and post-season races. Most of the races will be held at the Sunken Meadow State Park course. The West Islip meet will be held at Belmont Lake State Park.

The Blue Devils quickly picked up their pace during the opening week of practice, with a variety of training exercises and runs of various lengths. One or two more runners might still join the team as Romano welcomes anyone with an interest in cross country.

Huntington returns its entire line-up with the exception of Ethan Goleski, who graduated and moved on to the University at Buffalo.

“This year’s team is led by outstanding sophomore runner Eric Heinz, who looks to take the next step in competing with the best Suffolk county runners,” Romano said. “Eric learned a lot last year and excelled during the winter and spring track seasons. He’s put in a lot of work since last season and we are looking for  him to lead us this season.”

The Blue Devils are counting on Driscoll to compliment Heinz and form a nice 1-2 punch.

“Ronan has a lot of promise and does a great job competing with some of the better runners in Suffolk,” Romano said.

Mendikyan and Joyce are the team’s captains “with the leadership they’ve acquired the last three seasons,” Romano said.

Rounding out the team are Erazo, Ntambwe and Henry, “who all look to make great strides in their second season on the team,” Romano said.

“We got a competitive league this year which will only make us better for the invitationals we’ll compete in this season,” Romano added.

The season opens on September 10 against West Islip at Belmont Lake.