Finley Boys’ Volleyball Ready for New Season

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ volleyball team is returning for its third season after being reinstated in 2022 following an absence of many years. Tryouts will begin on Tuesday, January 16.

The squad will be coached by Washington Primary School physical education teacher Eric Mininni, who has coached on the varsity, JV and middle school levels during his career.

Eighth graders Rhys Carillo, Rocco Caruso, Jeremiah Dasque DeLeon, Jackson Dickson, Sebastian Mendia, Daniel Paiz, Martin Ramos Joyas, Henry Schmid and Keven Zuniga Reyes

all played on last year’s team and are eligible to return this winter.

The team is bused immediately after school to Woodhull Intermediate School, where it practices in the gym there. Games will be played in the Finley gym. A Hudl camera has been installed in the Finley gym so games can be livestreamed and viewed on the Finley Blue Devil Sports YouTube channel.

Send a message to Coach Mininni at emininni@hufsd.edu for more information if you are interested in playing. No previous experience is necessary.

A 10 meet schedule has been issued by Section XI. It looks like a great year lies ahead. Meets have been scheduled at home with Great Hollow-Blue, West Islip-Udall, Commack-Gold, West Islip-Beach and Candlewood. Away contests are set with Stimson-White, Lindenhurst-White, West Hollow, Stimson-Maroon and Northport.

The first meet will be held in the Finley gym on February 8 at 5 p.m. against visiting Great Hollow-Blue. The season wraps up with a meet on March 15 at West Hollow at 5 p.m.

Students should look for flyers posted around the building. Those interested in participating in the Winter Season II sports program need to be cleared by school nurse Kay Khohkar. Students must present proof of a physical exam within the past 12 months and submit a signed interval health history form.

For information about getting cleared/requalified for participation send a message to Mrs. Khohkar at kkhohkar@hufsd.edu.

Every student needs to get re-qualified by the school nurse prior to each sport season. The nurse can only clear a student-athlete who has the following forms on file:

1. Required NYS Health Examination Form (click for link)

Physical exams can be performed by private doctor or school doctor and are valid for one year.

2. Interval Health History for Sports Participation (English/Spanish) (click for link)

A new form is required for each season; must be completed by parent/guardian, signed in ink and dated within 30 days of the start of the season.

3. Parent Consent Form for Athletes (English/Spanish) (click for link)

On the first day of tryouts/practice, students should:

1. Be dressed appropriately and ready to participate in their respective sport.

2. Submit to their coach a blue parent permission form signed by both parent/guardian and student.

Mininni has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 1998. A graduate of Oceanside High School, he obtained an undergraduate degree at Towson State University in athletic training and physical education and a master’s degree at Adelphi University in health. He completed his administrative certification through Stony Brook University.

Mr. Minnini has coached varsity softball, middle school, junior varsity and varsity boys’ and girls’ volleyball, middle school boys’ track and field, junior varsity girls’ tennis and middle school boys’ tennis.