UNITY — Another smashing sports season has wrapped up for junior badminton athletes at local schools with Battle West District championships.
This is the highest level of competition to end the junior badminton season. Junior conference badminton was held at McLurg High School in Wilkie April 26, with players who advanced from this division moving on to the Battle West District event played at John Paul II Collegiate April 29.
For senior badminton athletes, conference playdowns took place April 27 at Unity Composite High School. Athletes who advanced from conferences played at Battle West District championships April 30 at McLurg High School. Players and teams that advanced from the April 30 event will compete at SHSAA regional playdowns May 7 in Osler. Athletes' goals are to earn spots at SHSAA provincial championships to be held May 14 in Rosthern.
Kerrobert Composite School posted on their Facebook that their junior badminton team had 14 athletes: Evan Neumeier, Mathew Olson, Carson Kraft, Ryland Richmond, Madison Ley, Bronc Johnson, Grayson Nunweiler, Rylan Abbott, Brooklyn Kraft, Jordan Charteris, Zoe Eagles, Dawson Halter, Ryker Seversen and Cohen Phillips.
“We participated in league, playing games against Unity, Wilkie and Luseland. April 26, 12 of these athletes took part in conferences in Wilkie and had a lot of wonderful games, scores, and great improvement shown throughout the day, as well as the year."
Kerrobert Composite School's Madison Ley advanced to districts in North Battleford after finishing top two in the girls' single division.
Unity Composite High School has also experienced a badminton season of personal bests and success stories, continuing to build on a strong program.
In the UCHS junior badminton program, a number of Warrior athletes advanced to represent the school at junior district championships in North Battleford. Competing were: girls' singles - Sunshine D; boys' singles- Ethan S and Zayden W; girls' doubles - Chloe and Kira and Anna and Ava; boys' doubles- Jagr and Nash and Lynden and Bennett; and mixed doubles: Halle and Ethan B and Kasey P and Mateo R.
At the Battle West District Championship, in the UCHS junior badminton program, Jagr Lewin and Nash Sperle won gold in boys' doubles. Zayden Wagner won silver in boys' singles with Ethan Stifter earning bronze in the same category. Sunshine Delorme won bronze in girls' singles while the mixed doubles duo of Kasey Parker and Mateo Rutley picked up fourth.
UCHS was well represented at junior districts in nine out of 10 categories.
Coaches for the junior badminton program at UCHS include Mrs. Snell, Mr. Cey and Miss Arsenault.
UCHS senior badminton program saw a full 10 teams, numbering 16 athletes, move on to Battle West District championships, which resulted in several athletes advancing to regionals upcoming May 7 in Osler.
Results from the district event included: Dahlia Rafid Hamed placing fourth but advancing to regional competition as a replacement. The boys' doubles duo of Thomas Snell and Jesse Deck earned silver, advancing them to regional competition. Ken Parker coaches the senior badminton program at UCHS.
At McLurg High School, junior badminton players competed at conferences held at their own school April 26. Athletes who advanced to Battle West District championships, played in North Battleford, included all McLurg teams from conferences. Austin Sittler and Josh Tatton won the bronze medal in boys' doubles. Brynlee Leinenweber and Kaiden Fenrich captured district bronze in the mixed doubles division. The girls' doubles duo of Kierra Babchuk and Cheyanne Cey earned a silver medal. Junior badminton athletes are coached by Ms. Braun.
For McLurg senior badminton players, there were a number of athletes who advanced from Battle West District Championships to continue their season at regional playdowns taking place in Osler on May 7. All McLurg Broncs teams who represented McLurg at April 27 conference playdowns advanced to Battle West District event.
Advancing to regionals will be Grade 10 student Kayden Cey in the boys' singles event, earning silver at districts. Brooklyn Salewski, Grade 11 student playing in the girls' singles event, earned BW district gold and has advanced to regionals. McLurg boys' doubles duo of Lyndon Ochs and Keyan Sittler, both Grade 12 students, earned gold, advancing them to regional competition.
McLurg also earned a gold medal in the mixed doubles event, with the team of Payton Schell and Kaden Braun, both Grade 11 students, advancing to regionals. Isaiah Mamer, Grade 12, also won gold at the district event but is unable to attend regionals due to a provincial club volleyball commitment. The mixed doubles duo of Amy Gruber and Owen Mann won a bronze medal.
These six athletes will set their sights on earning a provincial berth May14-15 in Rosthern. Laurie Churchill coaches the McLurg senior badminton program.
