Ever since the season began, the badminton athletes have been constantly improving in physical skills and as a team, badminton head coach Tommy Nguyen said. The badminton team has won four games to two so far, according to the MHS athletics website.
The current badminton season has been going well so far, despite the presence of challenges and the amount of new people, Nguyen said.
“Every season is different, but I think that’s the fun of it,” Nguyen said. “It’s always different, but this year, specifically, has been fun. There’s a lot of new people on our team, so there’s a lot of learning, but it’s been good overall. It’s been a challenging season, but it’s been a good season.”
Teamwork is a significant part of a successful team, Nguyen said. This includes how the students are willing to support each other during matches, he added.
“Our biggest strength is really our team energy and morale,” Nguyen said. “Everyone participates and cheers for each other while they’re playing, that plays a big role, and I think that it helps out a lot. So I would say that our biggest strength is definitely our camaraderie, our community, and the ability to help each other.”
For junior Ikshu Jain, this is her first year as a team captain, she said. The experience of being a team captain has taught her valuable lessons, she added.
“My first year is pretty good,” Jain said. “It has definitely taught me a lot of leadership skills and how to be more confident. Before being a captain, or even before joining the team, I was not as out there as I am now, and I think it’s got me closer to the team.”
One thing Jain looks forward to for the team is becoming Central Coast Section (CCS) champions, she said. Outside of winning, another thing that is important for matches is being passionate about the sport, she said.
“For the upcoming games, I am really confident that we’re going to become the CCS champions,” Jain said. “I think one thing more important than winning is making sure the entire team is happy and still shares passion for the sport.”
When it comes to singles versus doubles, there are many differences depending on the game type, Jain said. Jain has experience in both types of badminton games, she added.
“For my first and second year on the team, I played doubles,” Jain said. “This year, I’m focusing more on singles. I definitely think both of them are very different because when you’re playing doubles, you have someone by your side and you have a support system with you while playing. But with singles, it’s a little bit more pressure because you’re playing alone and you don’t really have anyone experiencing the same game as you are.”
The badminton team members help each other improve their skills and encourage each other during matches, sophomore Kehong Ng said.
“For the MHS badminton team, I think our strength is mainly how we treat each other like family,” Ng said. “We cheer each other on as best as we can, and the better players will tend to help the weaker players to improve. Some people will stay after varsity practice to support JV players.”
One piece of advice that Ng would share is that being in good physical condition and having good coordination are crucial, he said.
“I’m going to be honest: badminton is a lot of physical work,” Ng said. “You’re going to have to be pretty well conditioned, and you have to have decent hand-eye coordination.”
Despite the number of matches the badminton team plays, the most important part of the season is the team and the players’ growth, Nguyen said.
“Generally, I think everyone’s been improving,Not just in physical skills, but mental skills as well,” Nguyen said. “I think they’re growing, their personalities are growing, and they’re coming out of their shells. They’re connecting with each other and building a nice team camaraderie, which I’m actually more proud of than their records.”
