| Badminton improves itself despite feeble opponents (4/09) | | Print | |
| Written by Natalie Luu | |
| Monday, 27 April 2009 | |
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Made up of all girls, the team aims to snatch its seventh consecutive championship and carry on the legacy left by stars such as alumni Joanne Poon of the class of ’08, Joann Wu of the class of ’06, and Ginger Lau of the class of ’04. On April 2, the undefeated Cardinals, who play in the competitive Division A, embarrassed Mission High School, a Division B team. According to senior Sophia Li, Mission was the easiest opponent for the Cardinals this season. “My opponent was slow and predictable,” she said. “She hit the same shots over again.” According to sophomore Naomi Leung, Mission was the first Division B opponent the Cardinals have played. In the doubles matches, the Cardinals trounced the Bears 21-5 and 21-9 in the first two sets in the third doubles match. “I didn’t see this as a match, but as a practice for us,” she said. Even though the Cardinals are winning by huge margins, they never lose their focus. “No team has the enthusiasm and spirit we have,” Li said. On March 26, the girls faced off against the Washington Eagles, who finished in second place in the AAA last year after a close championship loss to the Cardinals. The Eagles had beaten all the other top teams, and the Cards could not help but be fearful of them. “We knew they were going to be tough,” Li said. Before the match, the two rivals were tied for first place in the division. In the first two sets of the first singles match, Li destroyed the returning All-City champion of last year, Zhao Qing Zheng, by a score of 2-0. “The most effective way to break her was to make her tired,” she said. “I found her weaknesses first and that was the key to victory.” Sophomore Oriana Chiu also proved her talent as she came out on top in the second singles match. Although Chiu beat her opponent by a landslide in both sets, every point was earned. “The match consisted of mostly intense speed shots,” she said. “I really had to think on my feet.” The new badminton coach this year, physical education teacher Christine Hosoda, developed a conditioning routine that is giving the team an edge. “The ability to run quickly is very important.” Chiu said. “Coach Hosoda’s conditioning had been really helpful.” In the first doubles match, senior Carmen Lee and junior Zoie Chow crushed the Eagles 2-1 in the closest match of the day. “They were a really good team,” Lee said. According to Lee, the two Cardinal doubles players were a bit nervous, but they pulled it together in the second and third sets. “I have to give a big thanks to the coach and our teammates,” she said. “The team’s motivation was vital to our success.” Come watch the girls at 4 p.m. on April 28 at home against the Lincoln Mustangs. Share this article:           |
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