Varsity:

As the OHS girls’ badminton team enters the new season, players are able to either improve their skills or start off where they left off. With the new season just beginning they have to challenge themselves not only for their teammates but also for themselves.

“I have been able to pick up my skills quickly and continue challenging myself,“ said Madison Fulmer, senior.

Each player on the team works hard, not just to win each game but also for each other, and with each practice and each game the players not only improve in skill but also in their position.

“I played freshman and sophomore year, took junior year off, and now I am back for senior year. I feel good about my position since I am not too far off from where I left off, and I am excited to keep moving up the ladder,” Fulmer said.

Every player starts from the very beginning and works their way up to the position that they are in currently. Not only does it show how far each player has come, it shows how dedicated they are to the sport.

“I feel like I improved, because even though I took a break in junior year due to another extracurricular, I came back with more focus and determination,“ Fulmer said.

As the season continues to move forward, the players are paving their way through the court and having a fun time with their teammates. 

“My favorite part is the team environment and my friends I have kept over the years. It is fun, supportive, and it pushes me to do my best,“ Fulmer said.

JV:

As the OHS girls badminton team enters a new season, there are new opportunities for athletes to show and test their skills. Even though the badminton team just started their season, the players are already putting their all into their games.

There is a returning coach for the badminton team this year who allows the players to grow and improve their badminton skills. Players can already see the positive impact it has on the team.

“She’s been coaching badminton for a long time, so she knows her stuff well. She’s definitely helping me and our team because she’s teaching us how to be smart about playing and to ‘stay with it’ during a match. I feel very grateful for her,“ said Ngoc Pham, junior.

Being on the badminton team can take years of hard work to get to where a player wants and it takes real dedication to a sport a person loves to not give up and continue to push through and get better.

“I’ve been on the team since freshman year, so this will be my third year playing. I feel great about where I am because in my first year, I was at the bottom of the exhibition team. I’m so glad I’ve become better throughout my high school years because I feel involved in my school,” Pham said.

Even though the badminton team strives for a successful season, they are also excited to have a fun time with their team.

“I love doing the traditions my coach makes, like doing ‘sisters,’ where you give snacks to another player for an away game. I love getting to know my teammates and bonding with them,” Pham said.

With the team’s shared love for the game, the players are happy to create new memories with new or existing players.

“Being on the team alone makes me feel grateful for my friends and our support for each other,” Pham said.

Exhibition:

Even though exhibition is where most players on the badminton team start, it has talented players on the team. They have to use the skills they have recently learned to play people on different experience levels.

Even though exhibition is still part of the team and that is where most players start they do not get to practice all the time like JV or varsity. 

“I want to get more training on my skill, but because I’m in exhibition now, I cannot practice all the time in school,” said Alisa Young, junior.

Players go hand in hand on different experience levels and improve their skills and their connection to the team.

“I feel like you get more connections and you get to do something after school,” said Han Duong, sophomore.

With new players joining every year, the exhibition team grows and builds a stronger team.

“I just wanted to play sports and be a good player,” Young said.

As the season progresses, the badminton team will continue to improve their skills and continue to have each other’s backs. 

“Because I started over the summer, I feel like there are a lot of things I can improve on but I’m new and still have so much to learn,” Doung said.