A Tradition of Excellence
Middle School Sports
Middle School Athletics Headlines
Open Invitation for Finley Girls’ Gymnastics
There’s still time for seventh and eighth grade girls at J. Taylor Finley Middle School to consider participating in the new combined gymnastics team with nearby Oldfield Middle School. It’s a joint venture between Huntington UFSD and Harborfields CSD to create additional opportunities in both district.
Finley Girls’ Basketball Tops Robert Moses
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School “blue” team easily bested visited North Babylon-Robert Moses in the season opener for both teams, 33-17 before a loud crowd in the Finley gym.
Finley Boys’ Volleyball Ready for Action
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ volleyball team is ready for action. It will take the court for its first match of the season on Friday against West Babylon in the Finley gym. The action begins at 4:30 p.m.
Sharp Shooters Lift Finley Boys’ Basketball
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ basketball “white” team featured some sharp shooters. The athletic squad played its collective hearts out over the course of a 10 game schedule.
Finley Wrestling Sees Surge in Interest
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School wrestling team has seen a surge in interest this winter. The squad currently includes 43 seventh and eighth graders. It’s the biggest turnout for the mat sport in many years.
Finley-Blue Boys’ Basketball Celebrates Accomplishments
Ups and downs are part of every team’s season and that was the case for the J. Taylor Finley Middle School “blue” boys’ basketball team coached by Tim Madden. The squad featured a mix of veteran players and newcomers.
Finley-Blue Girls’ Volleyball Makes Dramatic Improvements
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ volleyball “blue” team wrapped up its season after dramatically improving its collective volleyball skills to the point where the squad became competitive in every match.
Finley Girls’ Volleyball Players Display Talent
Lauren Blackburn was happy with what she saw on the court as her J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ volleyball team displayed real potential for future success at the high school level.
Finley Wrestling Welcomes Newcomers to the Mat
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School wrestling team is set for its first week of practice, commencing on Tuesday, January 17 at 3 p.m. in the school gym.
Finley Girls’ Basketball to Feature Two Teams
Due to heightened interest, Huntington UFSD has created a second girls’ basketball team at J. Taylor Finley Middle School this winter. Tryouts will begin on Tuesday, January 17 in the school gym.
Finley Boys’ Volleyball Ready for Sophomore Season
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ volleyball team was reinstated last winter following an absence of many years. With the first season back a complete success, hopes are running high for the sophomore campaign. Tryouts will begin on Tuesday, January 17.
Finley Winter Season II Sports Begin on January 17
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School Winter Season II will begin on Tuesday, January 17.
Finley-Blue Girls’ Soccer Finishes at 7-3
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School “blue” girls’ soccer team compiled a 7-3 mark this past fall. The 18 player squad outscored their ten opponents by a margin of 43-23.
Finley Girls’ Volleyball Thrives
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ volleyball program is thriving. More than 90 seventh and eighth graders participated in three days of tryouts. The district added a second team this winter in response to overwhelming interest in the sport.
Finley Boys’ Basketball Teams Enthusiastic
If unbridled enthusiasm is any indicator, the two J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ basketball teams are set for a great season. The young Blue Devils are enjoying the opening weeks of the winter campaign.
New Opportunity Created for Finley Girls’ Gymnastics
For the first time ever, J. Taylor Finley Middle School seventh and eighth grade girls are expected to have an opportunity to participate in interscholastic gymnastics. Huntington UFSD and neighboring Harborfields are finalizing plans to collaborate on a combined middle school team next spring.
Finley Girls’ Soccer-White a Work in Progress
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ soccer “white” team coached by Spanish teacher Alicia Furman was a work in progress throughout the fall season. The 20 player roster was captained by Aubrie Godin, Justina Hlenski and Gabriella LoScalzo.
Finley-Blue Boys’ Soccer Enjoys 10-0 Season
They were perfect. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ soccer “blue” team completed its season with a perfect 10-0 record.
Free Finley Girls’ Lacrosse Intramurals to be Offered
Another free intramural opportunity will soon be available to J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls. Plans have been finalized to offer an early morning girls’ lacrosse intramural program throughout the winter months in the lead-up to the spring season.
Finley Cross Country Gathers Momentum
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School co-ed cross country team was strengthened this year, but still needs to take another step next fall with hopefully the addition of more girls to the squad.
Middle School Athletics Information
Tryout forms
- Finley Spring Sports Tryout Information Flyer 2023
- Finley Middle School - Athletic Program Packet for 2022-23 English/Spanish)
- NYS Private Physical Examination Form for Athletes
- Parent Consent Form for Athletes (English/Spanish)
- Interval Health History for Sports Participation (English/Spanish)
Additional Documents
- Huntington UFSD Athletic Program Important Dates - 2022-23
- Letter to Parents on Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act 2022-23
- Updated Athlete Transportation Release Form
- Huntington HS Transcript Release to Athletic Coaches Form
- NYSED Guidelines for Concussion Management in Schools - July 2022
- NYSPHYSAA Concussion Checklist
- Concussion Management Protocol for Student Athletes (English and Spanish)
About the Middle School Athletics Program
A Longstanding Tradition of Excellence
Through the years, the Huntington interscholastic athletics program has played an important role in the lives of students and community members. An integral part of the Department of Physical Education, organized athletics in the Huntington School District date back more than one hundred years. Since the inception of sports teams here, Blue Devil competitors have won every possible honor bestowed on high school athletes.
Life Lessons and Opportunities to Participate
Students who choose to participate will learn lessons in the value of hard work, teamwork, personal sacrifice and commitment, time management, respect for authority and rules, as well as how to lead and follow. A myriad of sports are offered during fall, winter and spring seasons. Students can choose to compete on one team each season. Parents of athletes, alumni, and community members who want to support and become involved in the athletic program have an opportunity to join the Huntington Booster Club. This organization sponsors many activities and promotes and enhances the operation of the athletic program.
Communication made Easy
Schedules for all teams and directions to away contests are available from the athletic office or by logging onto the Section XI website at www.sectionxi.org.
Coaches are also available to discuss any aspect of their specific program with prospective athletes and/or parents. For further information, including tryout dates and sports offered by season, please call the athletic office at 631-673-2018.
Middle School Athletics Leadership
James M. Hoops
Distict Director for Athletics, Health and Physical Education
James M. Hoops assumed the position of district director of health, physical education and athletics on July 1, 2021. He previously served for three years as coordinator of physical education, athletics and special projects. He has worked full-time in the district since April 1984 and has been a physical education teacher since September 1990. He is also certified as a social studies teacher.
A graduate of John H. Glenn High School, Mr. Hoops obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees at Stony Brook University, through which he also obtained his school administrator certification. He has coached wrestling on the high school level and boys’ and girls’ tennis and girls’ soccer on both the middle school and high school levels. He has also coached middle school boys’ and girls’ soccer and baseball.
While serving as assistant coach to iconic Hall of Fame head coach Lou Giani, the Blue Devil wrestling team won several Suffolk and state team championships along with 17 individual county and eight state champions.
Mr. Hoops has also served as the district’s public information coordinator since July 2001. He maintains Huntington UFSD’s website content and also prepares items for the district’s various social media platforms.
Michael Marinello
Distict Coordinator for Physical Education, Athletics and Driver's Education
Michael Marinello has been the district’s coordinator of physical education, athletics and driver education since July 1, 2021. He has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 1995. He earlier taught at Western Suffolk BOCES for five years.
A graduate of Sachem High School, Mr. Marinello earned an undergraduate degree at Springfield College in physical education and a master’s degree at Stony Brook University in liberal studies with a concentration in health science. He has coached high school golf, high school and middle school wrestling, JV tennis and middle school baseball and boys’ track and field.
Currently the head coach of the Huntington High School varsity golf team, Mr. Marinello is also an assistant varsity wrestling coach. He has been a well-known and well-liked faculty member and athletic coach who also lives in the community and has sent his own children through Huntington High School.
Mr. Marinello is a CPR and First Aid trainer. He has also been a volunteer emergency medical technician. He has taught driver education for many years and he leads the district’s program.
Middle School Winter I Season Athletic Teams
Finley MS
Winter II Sports Season Athletics
Modified Program offerings
Dates
Teams
Contacts
Policies
Boys' Volleyball Team info coming soon!
Wrestling Team info coming soon!
Middle School Athletics Videos and Galleries
HHS National Honor Society Induction Ceremony 2021
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HHS National Honor Society Induction Ceremony 2021
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Finley Sports Galleries and Slideshows
Action photos of our Finley Teams
Middle School Athletics Honors
Information Coming Soon
Our Partners in Excellence
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Challenging Academic Courses
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Academic Departments
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Interscholastic Athletic Teams
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Colleges and Universities accepting 2020 HHS Graduates