Co-ed badminton (2-7 Peninsula Athletic League) has struggled against Mills High School for the last five years. They’ve only surpassed five points in a match against the Vikings once in the last half-decade. However, the Panthers put up a strong fight but couldn’t pull off the upset, dropping the contest 18-12 on Thursday, April 11. Despite the loss, Burlingame believes they can carry this newfound momentum into their future matches.

Currently, in sixth place in the PAL league standings, the team acknowledges it’s not the position they had hoped for. However, they are encouraged by the progress they’ve made against formidable opponents like Mills, considering the close deficit a small victory. 

The Panthers exhibited unwavering determination and resilience as they pushed through to finish the match on a good note.

“They play[ed] really [well against us]. For the past five years, we only got three or four points against Mills. But because of this strategy that I made, we got 12. The last time we got 9 but today we improved. We got 12,” head coach Sal Banquiles said.

Going into the match, Banquiles strategically planned unusual match-ups, pairing senior captain Jayden Ma, typically a boys’ singles player, with junior Ashley Zeng for mixed doubles. Despite the unfamiliar partnerships, players managed to maintain their composure and contribute to the team’s success.

“I have to mix every partnership [to] get some points because it’s a team effort. It’s not individual,” Banquiles said.

Newly partnered junior duo Gabbie Vega and KayKay Pan displayed exceptional coordination, dominating their opponents with precise serves and smashes. According to Vega, the preparation before the match was equally important to her performance during the game.

“I think when [we] were strategizing it’s important to think about the weaknesses of each player,” Vega said.

Sophomore Ellie Liu showed significant improvement in her girls’ singles match, attributing the positive results to her increased confidence. With renewed self-encouragement, Liu delivered lots of trick plays by delivering filthy smashes across the court that her opponent couldn’t reach. 

“I think I did pretty good honestly since I won my last game. It went up to three [sets] and I think it kind of boosted my confidence because I saw myself getting better and thinking, ‘hey this is working,’” Liu said.

Despite challenges, Ma felt the team remained resilient and focused during intense moments. 

Playing with confidence and ease during the first set, Ma and Zeng earned a smooth 21-16 victory. 

The girls’ doubles tandem of senior Clara Zhong and junior Charlotte Wong narrowly lost their match 18-21 and 19-21. Nevertheless, the team’s determination remains unwavering.

While the game didn’t end in a victory, it will boost morale in practices and future matches. The Panthers look onward to hopefully increase their current place in the PAL Bay standings against Aragon High School on Thursday, April 18th.