In past years, badminton players from Moose Jaw high schools would often find themselves putting together impressive showings in the local league, but run into difficulty once they took the court against small-town schools that specialized in the sport.
Based on results from the Moose Jaw Invitational Badminton Tournament this past weekend, that isn’t the case any longer -- and it bodes well for future success for players looking to make their way to provincials.
Players from the Friendly City won four of five divisions during the event on Saturday afternoon at Peacock in addition to a host of top-three finishes.
Central’s Harry Lin -- who played tennis for Team Sask at the 2019 Western Canada Games -- continued his impressive start to the season with a first-place finish in the boys singles division. Right on his heels was Cornerstone’s Cole Breitkreuz in second place, with Briercrest Christian Academy’s Ike Wong taking third.
Girls singles saw defending provincial silver medalist Kenzie Behrns from Cornerstone continue her fast start to the season, taking top spot ahead of Briercrest Christian’s Skye Dueck and Glentworth’s Mary-Jane Doherty.
Mixed doubles ended up with Moose Jaw teams taking two of three spots, with Central’s Jaylon Salido-Porter and Ember Dusomme in first, Assiniboia’s Sydney Huys and Evan Zalinko claiming second and Cornerstone’s Nick Gyug and Jenna Benallick in third.
Cornerstone’s Malayna Gramlich and Sarah Buhler won the girls doubles division as Kiara Lee and Savannah Peterson from Glentworth were runners-up and Vanier’s Ratchel Chakanza and Rizza Alimoot placed third.
Boys doubles was the only class won by a non-Moose Jaw league team, with Bosco Yio and Cayden Tsoi from Briercrest Christian finishing ahead of Will Grondin and Ty Reid from Assinboia. Ashton Glova and Jayden Watterson from Vanier were third.
The Moose Jaw high school senior badminton league is back in action on Tuesday, April 12 at Peacock.
