Badminton

After placing fourth in their division last year, the co-ed Badminton team is determined to improve their league performance in the upcoming season. Outside of league play, three girls qualified for CCS last fall, and senior Jayden Ma hopes for even more postseason success. 

Over the last several weeks, head coach Sal Banquiles, a longtime badminton and former player for the Philippine national team, has been training the well-rounded badminton team for the season ahead. While there are a lot of familiar faces returning, the squad also brought in many newcomers ready to impress.  

Having previously trained with Banquiles, freshman Jonathan Friedman is expected to be a standout player this season.

Despite the promising outlook for the season, this year’s team will have to overcome a few challenges. The many newcomers, while inexperienced players, will have to work to reach their full potential. But they will certainly have guidance and support from veterans, including Ma, who is expected to be a leader and big contributor. In addition, returning players and sophomores Brandon Mark, Allison Duh, and Ellie Liu will be valuable players this season.

While early in the year, Banquiles has big goals for his badminton team — and even sees a potential championship in their future.

“Goal for this season is to be a champion. That’s my first goal always,” Banquiles said.