H-ton Dynamic Gymnastics Duo Captures All-League Honors

Khloe Bedell and Maddie Harris showed they have all the flips, rolls, jumps and landings demanded of a top gymnast. The two Blue Devil dynamos helped the combined Harborfields/Huntington girls’ gymnastics team compile a 5-1 league mark and go 7-3 overall.

Bedell and Harris both captured All-League honors, with Bedell especially excelling in vault, beam and floor exercise and Harris shining in bars, vault, floor and beam. Bedell is an eighth grader while Harris is in seventh grade. They are coached by Huntington’s Jackie Lazzarini and Harborfields’ Matthew Canty.

The combined team took seventh place in Suffolk, narrowly missing qualifying for the county team championships. The squad was second in League II.

“Khloe had an outstanding second year on the varsity team and continues to grow into a confident, reliable athlete,” Lazzarini said. “Now in eighth grade, she stepped into this season with more maturity, focus and consistency. Her positive attitude and willingness to work hard made her a steady presence in the gym and she has truly become a core part of our team culture. We’re excited to see her continue her journey and can't wait to watch her keep improving in the seasons ahead.”

Harris emerged as a force to be reckoned with in only her first year on the team. “As a seventh grader in her first varsity season, Maddie made an immediate impact,” Lazzarini said. “She fit in seamlessly with the team and brought enthusiasm, energy, and a strong work ethic to every practice. Maddie showed impressive potential and never hesitated to challenge herself or try something new. Her natural athletic ability and positive spirit helped her grow quickly this year, and we’re thrilled about the bright future she has on this team.”

Lazzarini is hoping to at least double the number of Huntington UFSD participants on the gymnastics team. Finley and high school students who are interested in participating should send a message to athletic director Jim Hoops at jhoops@hufsd.edu.

“This season was a huge step forward for our program,” the coach said. “After graduating six seniors last year, we came in with a very young team, and they rose to every challenge. Despite our youth, the team showed incredible growth, determination, and consistency throughout the season. One of our biggest achievements was how close we came to qualifying for the team counties. Only the top six teams advance and for the majority of the season we held that sixth-place spot. Even though we were ultimately bumped out at the end by Patchogue-Medford, this was the closest our program has ever been to making it. That accomplishment speaks volumes about the talent, heart, and future of this team. With so many of our athletes returning next year, the foundation we built this season sets us up for an even stronger and more competitive future. This group has proven that they're ready to take our program to the next level.”

Finley seventh and eighth graders can participate on the varsity team through the state’s Athletic Placement Process program. Parents should reach out to Mr. Hoops for more information.

“What makes this team so special isn’t just the skills,” Lazzarini said. “It’s how they support each other. They didn’t just work hard this year, they lifted each other up. Our team’s strength came from how well they clicked, trusted and encouraged one another.”