Spartans win 12

Times Reporter   

 

The Strathmore High School (SHS) Spartans made an excellent step in their journey to zones and provincials, winning 12 medals at their annual home badminton tournament on March 29. Roughly 250-300 students filled the SHS gym from all over the province.

“They did very well. Twelve medals is very impressive,” Jerry Flaws said, athletic director of SHS. “This tournament was big. It’s one of their toughest ones of the year because there’s so many people, and timing in the season too.”

This was the Spartans second home tournament of the season, but they will also host counties against Holy Cross Collegiate and Standard High School on April 2, on the way to zones on April 12. The Spartans won badminton zones last year.

“They’d like to defend that championship. They have a good shot at it,” Flaws said.

The tournament gives the Spartans – who also had several fourth place finishes – a boost of confidence, as well as an insight to their competition.

“Most of the teams we played in this tournament, we’ll face at provincials,” badminton coach Kenton Zandee said. “They have a good idea where the measuring stick is. I would expect most of Strathmore’s students would get through counties – just because there’s not that many schools competing. Ultimately, it comes down to how we do at zones, and hopefully we’ll get a few people to provincials.”

Bronze winners included: Matt Cool and Nick Nizetic, Alicia Kennedy and Jayda Stewart, as well as Lauren Zandee and Jared Dougan. Jared Dougan also won a silver with Reid Muenchrath, and his own silver in singles. Lauren Zandee was also heavily decorated beside her bronze, with a gold in singles, and another gold in doubles with partner Shayla Pollock.