The JPII Collegiate junior badminton team pose for a group picture at districts in their home gymnasium over the weekend. (Submitted photo/Joey Sadlowski)

By Martin Martinson

High school Athletics

Local high schools see strong showing at badminton districts

May 4, 2022 | 12:21 PM

For the first time in three years, the best in high school badminton from the surrounding area gathered together for senior and junior districts, taking place this year in Wilkie (senior) and John Paul II Collegiate (junior).

North Battleford Comprehensive High School (NBCHS) took home 10 medals between their senior and junior teams, with three seniors regional playdowns-bound this weekend, while JPII picked up a gold and three silver medals at the junior ranks in their home gymnasium.

Jaa Southgate (men’s singles), and Marcus Lehman and Reise Piller (mixed doubles) will attend regional playdowns May 7 in Osler. (Submitted photos/Mark Kotchorek)

Kalyna Bahler (gold in girl’s singles), Jaa Southgate (silver, boy’s singles) and Marcus Lehman and Reise Piller (silver, mixed doubles) headlined NBCHS’ successful weekend, that also saw Maryn Kachmarski (bronze, girl’s singles), Maryam Shah and Arwen Gunderson (bronze, girl’s doubles), and Caleb Hoiseth and Muhammad Areeb (bronze, boys doubles) pick up a spot on the podium in the senior ranks, and Aamna Siddiqui and Sabahat Zafar take bronze in junior girls doubles.

Coach with the NBCHS senior team, Mark Kotchorek said he and fellow coach, Larry Fontaine, are proud of what the group was able to accomplish with a bright future ahead for the school’s badminton program.

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“We had nine of our 10 [senior] players medal at districts, and with three on the road this weekend to Osler for regional play downs we’re very proud,” Kotchorek said. “We’re also excited about the future because a lot of our students that medaled are in Grades 10 and 11, so we’re going to have a lot of returning players, with a chance to advance even further next year.”

In the junior ranks, John Paul II saw John Laudinez and Kerrace Kubik take mixed doubles gold, while three silver medals were also won by Abby Bell (girl’s singles), Manny Mercer and Nate Fransoo (boy’s doubles), and Mathew Canete and Kristina Wandler (mixed doubles).

Head coach and manager with JPII junior badminton, Joey Sadlowski said it was great to see the team have a strong finish to the year, in their first chance to play at a districts tournament in their high school careers.

“The day went really well with all the students experiencing districts for the first time as junior districts hadn’t been held since April 2019,” Sadlowski said. “We are all proud of how the athletes throughout the season improved on their skills and athletic ability.”

Districts marks the end of the badminton season at the junior level. For the seniors, SHSAA regional playdowns will take place in Osler this weekend on May 7.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1