Birdies Fly Headfirst Into New Spring Matches
Badminton is looking forward to bouncing back after a tough last season.
By Saya Fujii
Badminton is looking forward to bouncing back after a tough last season.
By Saya Fujii
Having adjusted to last year’s new head coach, Athletic Director Joe Berticevich, the coed badminton team is getting ready for the season to start this spring.
Since the sport is coed, all of the players are put together to create one team. They compete in boys' singles and doubles, girls’ singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. There are three players in each category, all of whom are on varsity and the rest of the players are on the JV team and serving as substitutes during games.
The team’s first game is scheduled for Mar. 20, although the tryouts were pushed back to Feb. 26 from Jan. 29 due to the ongoing basketball season. Still, the athletes are excited to compete this new season.
“Our team didn't do so well last year, so I think all of it will be a little challenging but if we work hard this year I think we can at least win a few games,” said Lydia Thomas, 11.
The team lost four vital seniors last year, Johnny Le, Josh Hwang, Jun Park and Afsheen Sharifi, but Louis Gendzel, 11, is confident the team can pick up the slack this season.
“We've had some tough games with Santa Teresa High School in the past, but hopefully we can at least take some matches against them this year,” said Gendzel.
Elaine Chow, 11, has been a part of the badminton team for two years, and is excited for the new opportunities her third year will bring.
“I’m looking forward to playing girls’ doubles this year because it is my first year playing that,” said Chow.
Last year, a few graduated badminton players and older siblings came to help the team every once in a while, but the only officially recognized coach is Berticevich who coached his first badminton season last year.
“We're not sure yet if we have other coaches, I think this week we're going to find out, but I'm pretty sure we're going to get an assistant coach,” said Naima Haybe, 11.
Namita Hegde, 12, is looking forward to playing with her friends again and competing with other schools because she gets to meet new people. However, the ratio between boys and girls is a slight concern for her.
“There are not a lot of boys this season which might affect how we compete with other schools,” said Hegde.
Players like Chow, Thomas and Luka Bazan, 11, started playing badminton as a recreational sport and decided to play for the school team.
“I chose badminton because I originally played as a kid with my dad and it always stuck with me throughout my childhood. It can be really fun and relaxing but still has a high skill ceiling with plenty of competition,” said Bazan.
Since the sport is coed, all of the players are put together to create one team. They compete in boys' singles and doubles, girls’ singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. There are three players in each category, all of whom are on varsity and the rest of the players are on the JV team and serving as substitutes during games.
The team’s first game is scheduled for Mar. 20, although the tryouts were pushed back to Feb. 26 from Jan. 29 due to the ongoing basketball season. Still, the athletes are excited to compete this new season.
“Our team didn't do so well last year, so I think all of it will be a little challenging but if we work hard this year I think we can at least win a few games,” said Lydia Thomas, 11.
The team lost four vital seniors last year, Johnny Le, Josh Hwang, Jun Park and Afsheen Sharifi, but Louis Gendzel, 11, is confident the team can pick up the slack this season.
“We've had some tough games with Santa Teresa High School in the past, but hopefully we can at least take some matches against them this year,” said Gendzel.
Elaine Chow, 11, has been a part of the badminton team for two years, and is excited for the new opportunities her third year will bring.
“I’m looking forward to playing girls’ doubles this year because it is my first year playing that,” said Chow.
Last year, a few graduated badminton players and older siblings came to help the team every once in a while, but the only officially recognized coach is Berticevich who coached his first badminton season last year.
“We're not sure yet if we have other coaches, I think this week we're going to find out, but I'm pretty sure we're going to get an assistant coach,” said Naima Haybe, 11.
Namita Hegde, 12, is looking forward to playing with her friends again and competing with other schools because she gets to meet new people. However, the ratio between boys and girls is a slight concern for her.
“There are not a lot of boys this season which might affect how we compete with other schools,” said Hegde.
Players like Chow, Thomas and Luka Bazan, 11, started playing badminton as a recreational sport and decided to play for the school team.
“I chose badminton because I originally played as a kid with my dad and it always stuck with me throughout my childhood. It can be really fun and relaxing but still has a high skill ceiling with plenty of competition,” said Bazan.