The short badminton season will come to an end this weekend with provincials in Melfort, as representatives from the Northwest compete for provincial medals.
Calvin Perpeljuk of John Paul II competed in regional playoffs in Unity on the weekend. Calvin finished the round robin with a 4-1 record. The John Paul II representative was 4-0 after his first four games and faced Joseph Le of Saskatoon E.D. Feehan, who was also undefeated through his first four games. Calvin fell 21-18, 21-8 and settled for second place and a berth in provincials. North Battleford Comprehensive High School, Peirceland, Hillmond and Saskatoon Christian also had representatives in the boys' singles event.
In girls' singles, Kelsey Wildeman used the home court to her advantage, as she finished second and clinched a berth in provincials. Kelsey beat the Leoville, Meadow Lake and Saskatoon Walter Murray representatives in straight sets, but needed a third set to beat her opponent from Paradise Hill. Kelsey's lone loss came against Kendra Spilchuk of Saskatoon Bishop Mahoney, who was perfect on the weekend winning all 10 of her sets.
Wilkie and Medstead will both send teams in the girls' doubles event. Medstead and Wilkie faced off in the first game Saturday in Unity and the team of Haley Enns and Megan Lybeck of Medstead won in straight sets over Allison Cey and Chelsea Gruber.
Medstead lost just one set the rest of the day, that against the team from Saskatoon Mahoney, as they clinched first place. Megan and Haley are the defending provincial champions.
The Wilkie duo beat Saskatoon Bethlehem and Loon Lake in straight sets and battled for three-set wins over Saskatoon Mahoney and Maidstone to earn second and advance to provincials.
In the boys' doubles event in Unity, representatives from Meadow Lake and Saskatoon Evan Hardy advanced to provincials, as Wilkie, Unity, Maidstone and a second team from Evan Hardy also competed at regionals.
In mixed doubles, Megan Kretzter and Riley Macnab of Paradise Hill won regional gold after tying with Saskatoon Walter Murray's Yifan Han and Ruila Xu with 4-1 records. Megan and Riley beat the Walter Murray team in straight sets and that was the decisive game for first place. Paradise Hill's loss came against Medstead, while they beat Saskatoon Tommy Douglas, Wilkie and Meadow Lake.
