Bindrim Leads Blue Devil JV Tennis
The Huntington junior varsity tennis team is on firmer ground after compiling a 5-5 mark this fall under head coach Eric Mininni. The Blue Devils have struggled in recent years but fielded a line-up this year that featured several talented players, including junior Samantha Bindrim, who finished undefeated for the second consecutive season.
"The team is headed in the right direction," Mininni said. "I really enjoyed the progress that was made over the season. The girls from Finley were a big boost to our team and played well in matches."
Bindrim turned in a 10-0 record to lead the team. "She's an incredibly gifted athlete who has a real competitive drive," Mininni said. "She's a very smart player who knows how to use her skills to her advantage." The coach called the back-to-back undefeated campaigns "a tremendous accomplishment."
Freshman Ryan Bonitz came out late for the team but quickly worked her way up to the No. 3 singles position and compiled a 5-1 mark. "Ryan is a tremendous athlete with a real upside," Mininni said. She helped solidify our line-up and helped us to become really competitive."
Freshmen No. 1 doubles players Nina Flores and Christine Simpson also shined, forming a solid duo and finishing the season with a 7-3 record.
The highlight of the fall came when Huntington topped Kings Park for the first time in three years. "It was an especially big win since they had beaten us on our own courts earlier in the year," Mininni said.