|
While the girls’ badminton team rests easy before matches, its opponents tremble in fear of the impending annihilation.
Despite their limited experience and gym time, the Cardinals currently lead the AAA with an 11-0 record. Unworthy of the Cardinals’ superior skills, all opponents save Galileo and Washington have been shut out 5-0.
On April 22 the Cardinals trampled the Lincoln Mustangs, defeating them 5-0. They won each of the matches by wide margins, but the Mustangs put up a fight. “Many of us were impressed by how many of their starting eight players had improved,” junior alternate Lydia Hu said. “This match was more competitive than the other matches we played.”
On April 20, the Cardinals continued to prove their prowess as they obliterated the Burton Pumas 5-0. The team’s top eight players destroyed the Pumas by large margins. In all five matches, the Cardinals never allowed the Pumas to score more than 15 points, thus ending the matches swiftly. In the low intensity matches, the Cardinals focused on their shot accuracy. However, the team stayed focused. “We tried to stay aggressive and centered the entire match,” sophomore alternate Carmen Leung said.
On April 12, the Cardinals effortlessly stomped the ISA Cobras. Since the Cardinals played teams from the less competitive Division B that week, their opponents were no match for them. Due to some minor injuries among the starters, alternates stepped up to the plate. “It’s a good chance for the alternates to play in a real game,” junior singles player Oriana Chiu said.
Although the Cardinals are currently undefeated, they still continue to learn and improve. “Our matches have been very rewarding,” Hu said. “We were able to discover our weaknesses, which we must try to improve so they can become our strengths.”
To keep the Cardinals at the top of their game, head coach Christine Hosoda has the team working on tough drills and conditioning sets. The team is working on solid footwork, communication, focus and stamina. “We haven’t really reached that level of intensity and seriousness that we want to be at the end of the season,” sophomore doubles player Karen Lei said.
As the team works together towards perfection, they also spend essential time bonding. Besides meeting up twice so far outside of school, the players incorporate communication and bonding with conditioning sessions. “We’ve learned to support each other,” junior alternate Bettina Dea said. “Since we’ve been hanging out, we are closer with each other than most of our other classmates.”
Come cheer on the Cardinals at 4 p.m. on May 6 at Washington as they take on the Eagles.
|
