Badminton players head to zones; half may struggle, coach says

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

For the past few years Strathmore High School badminton players have put their best serving side forward and continuously snatched up wins when competing in zones. Following last week’s Counties Badminton Tournament, a contest to determine those players qualified to advance to zones, 27 SHS athletes are among a total 46 badminton players, including athletes from Standard School and Holy Cross Collegiate, representing the region at the competition with hopes of advancing to provincials.
Yet while half of those qualified from SHS are in Grade 12, head coach Kenton Zandee anticipates most of his athletes to struggle this year.
“We had a very strong last three or four years, and we won zones every year quite easily,” said Zandee. “This year I think will be a tough challenge. We don’t have the number of players and we’re retooling a bit. We have a lot of new kids … they’re eager, but they’re not quite there skill-wise yet.”
In comparison to previous years, lack of experience has deemed 2016 a rebuilding year. While the sport continues to grow in popularity – registering 48 players this season, the most Grade 10s to date, and an increase to 15 male participants – Zandee focused practices on proper technique, good practice methodology, and shot making. Although this year’s skill set doesn’t rival that of the previous seasons, the Grade 12 students have shown initiative to challenge each other and influence the younger athletes.
“If you only have one or two good players it’s difficult to motivate them and challenge them to get better,” Zandee said. “We still have a lot of good Grade 12s and they’ve pushed each other. I think they’ll do well in zones. I think a few of them should go on to provincials hopefully. The Grade 10s and 11s are learning that.”
Having qualified for Zones the last two years and competing at provincial level last year, Grade 12 student Libby Wheeler is looking forward to being among her 26 other team mates and competing in zones for the last time. According to Wheeler, participating in tournaments throughout the season and practicing difficult shots twice a week will become beneficial next weekend.
“We have a really fun team, we have a good time with each other and we’re all close but it’s pretty competitive throughout all the tournaments and zones,” she said. “The last three years were pretty strong, so I think the Grade 12s will have a pretty good year again.”
All 48 members of the SHS badminton team tried out at the Counties Badminton Tournament, which took place on April 20. Forty-six athletes from Holy Cross Collegiate, Strathmore High School, and Standard School will take part in zones in Three Hills on April 30.