Blue Devils Win Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards

In one of the best displays ever for the Blue Devil athletic program, five separate winter season teams won Section XI Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards based on ratings by opposing coaches.

The Huntington High School and J. Taylor Finley Middle School award winning teams include varsity girls’ fencing, varsity boys’ swimming and diving, junior varsity boys’ basketball, Finley “White” boys’ basketball and Finley “Blue” boys’ basketball.

This is the first time in memory that so many Huntington UFSD athletic teams have been recognized as Outstanding Sportsmanship Award recipients in the same season by Section XI, the governing body for scholastic athletics in Suffolk County.

Following each athletic contest, coaches are required to file ratings that cover the officials, fans, coaches and players. The ratings are compiled by Section XI. Officials with the top ratings are either promoted from the lower levels or assigned playoff games. The other ratings are used to determine Outstanding Sportsmanship Award recipients.

The Huntington/Finley winter season award winning teams are coached by Michelle O’Brien, Vincent O’Garra, Meg McConnell, Christopher Helmke, Malcolm Eugene, Timothy Madden and John Walsh.

Certificates for the teams will be presented the Huntington athletic office by Section XI this week. They will be displayed at the high school and at Finley.