H-ton Boys’ & Girls’ Badminton Set to Return

Huntington High School’s new varsity boys’ and girls’ badminton teams are set to return for their second season this March.

The two teams will once again practice and play in the high school gym. Lines for eight courts are in place on the gym floor. Uniforms and equipment have been delivered. Head coach Alex Nelson has been approved by the Huntington School Board.

The Blue Devils will play home and away league matches against Central Islip, Miller Place, Commack, Northport, Connetquot, Smithtown East, Patchogue-Medford, Half Hollow Hills, Smithtown West, Ward Melville, Lindenhurst, Brentwood and Walt Whitman. As many as three non-league matches can be scheduled.

Practices will begin on Monday, March 11. Sessions will be held daily after school. The season will run until early May with playoffs to follow.

Huntington opens the competitive season at home on March 27 against Central Islip at 5 p.m. The Blue Devils close the regular season at Walt Whitman on May 7 at 4:45 p.m.

Students spearheaded the creation of the new varsity sport. They petitioned district officials and participated in intramurals and a physical education class unit to demonstrate their interest and commitment.

Mr. Nelson has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 2017.  A graduate of Smithtown High School East, he obtained his undergraduate degree at Adelphi University, where he dual majored in physical education and accounting. He earned a master’s degree in coaching and exercise science at Concordia University Irvine in California. He played on Smithtown East’s badminton team throughout high school.

Licensed by Eastern New York Youth Soccer as a professional soccer trainer working for Long Island Professional Soccer, Mr. Nelson has coached middle school and JV soccer, middle school basketball and JV softball. He trains travel soccer teams for the Long Island Junior Soccer League.

Interested in playing badminton for the Blue Devils? Seek out Mr. Nelson at the high school or send him a message to him at anelson@hufsd.edu.