Spartans’ Badminton Team improves at Provincials

Times Reporter 

 

Five players from Strathmore High School competed in Provincials from May 3 to May 6 in Calgary, finishing the best they’ve placed in 15 years.

The students first played a seeding round; for singles, the top two players from each zone duel to be placed into either Category 1 or 2 (eight in both categories, 16 overall). The doubles follow the same system, but each zone has only one doubles team represented.

Sr. Boys Doubles team Merrick Fanning and Keegan Lane had previously placed only as high as fourth in the zone, and had never had the opportunity to go to provincials. This year, they placed seventh overall in the province.

“It was a unique experience for them, I’m glad they made it in their Grade 12 year. It’s something to cap off their high school badminton career,” said Coach Kenton Zandee. “I think they’re really pleased with themselves and they should be.”

Grade 11 Jessica Murphy had her second chance at Provincials this year, and participated in Category 2 Singles. 

“She played tough the entire time. She’s a kid who’s learning the game,” said Zandee. “Compared to the club players she’s quite raw, but she actually has this never-give-up attitude. And she plays all the school sports so she’s just a natural athlete.”

Murphy won a bronze in Category 2, thus placing her 11th overall in Alberta.

With the same finish, Grade 10 Jayden Smith earned the title of “Comeback King” at his first provincials. 

“In badminton it’s rally-type scoring; convention holds that if you’re about five points behind, it’s pretty much impossible to catch up. And in two separate matches, he actually came back from like, 10 point or 11 point deficits,” said Zandee of Smith, who was ranked thirteenth going into the tournament. “He was losing games like, 19-10, and came back and won those games, which doesn’t happen. But he just absolutely refused to quit, stuck with the strategy, and he did extremely well.”

Sr. Kaitlyn Dougan had finished first in Category 2 Singles last year (or ninth overall). Making it to Provincials every year is a feat in itself, but Dougan finished fourth this year in Category 1; though she didn’t win a medal, she improved by five spots.

For next season, Coach Zandee is hopeful that the strong standards this season has set will be matched, as there are high-level players coming from Grade 9 into Strathmore High next year.