Blue Devils Unite to Remember September 11

Huntington student-athletes came together last weekend to honor and remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, demonstrating the importance of community, service and remembrance.

The weekend began Friday afternoon as the Huntington girls’ varsity field hockey team dedicated its game to the remembrance of 9/11. Sophomore and Travis Manion Foundation Student Ambassador Greenlee Stanford connected her teammates with the organization and helped bring its mission of honoring our nation’s heroes through service to the Huntington athletic community.

Prior to the game, players from both teams gathered around the American flag for a special pre-game ceremony. Huntington sophomore Maya Schneider performed the National Anthem, providing a moment of reflection for the student-athletes, coaches, families and community members in attendance.

The Blue Devils, led by senior captains Caroline Mitek, Elliot Manu, Sophi Hoffman, and Junior Ava Bencivenga, went on to defeat the No. 1-seeded county and Long Island champion Sachem East team, making an already special afternoon an especially memorable one for the team and the Huntington community.

The spirit of remembrance and service continued early Saturday morning, as student-athletes from girls’ varsity field hockey, girls’ varsity soccer and boys’ lacrosse joined together to volunteer at the 9/11 Heroes Run in Huntington.

The students worked alongside community volunteers throughout the event, giving their time and energy to support an important community tradition dedicated to honoring the lives lost on September 11 and remembering the heroes who stepped forward in its aftermath. The weekend provided a powerful example of the impact student-athletes can have beyond the playing field.

Students from different teams came together as members of the Huntington community united by a shared commitment to remembrance and service. Through competition, volunteerism and leadership, Huntington’s student-athletes demonstrated that being a Blue Devil means more than representing their school on the field. It means supporting one another, giving back to the community and honoring those whose lives continue to inspire us.

Huntington UFSD is proud of these students for demonstrating compassion, leadership and a strong commitment to their community while helping ensure that the spirit of remembrance continues for generations to come.