The powerful crack of rackets sound in the gym as the boys and girls of the new configuration of the badminton team work together to defeat their opponents.

On March 8, the team defeated the Mustangs with a score of 4-3. The enthusiastic and energized Alex Wong and Andrew Huang started the Cardinals off with two victorious doubles games scoring 21-14 and 21-15. “Our first boys doubles had a good win and all players played hard,” coach Christine Hosoda said.

Although the Cardinals lost to the Mustangs in the first singles game, played by Nelson Huang, Huang was welcomed back to the bleachers with an eruption of support and high fives from his fellow team members. Throughout every match, the team kept its spirits up and its hearts proud.

This is the first year that the badminton team is co-ed; boys can now officially play in the tournaments in the SFUSD school system. “I want to train the guys on our team,” senior singles player Oriana Chiu said. “Hopefully we get a good, solid team. The gyms are very good to start with.” Before the new policy was implemented, boys could compete in tournaments and leagues outside of school, but could not participate in the AAA.

The team is ready for a season filled with cheers, tears and great victories that lay ahead. Come root for the Cardinals at 4 p.m. next Tuesday at the Neff Gym against the Mission Bears.