Badminton team prepares for season end

Sophomore+Tommie+Akamine+and+freshman+Jacqui+Carlson+receive+the+birdie+during+practice+match+this+afternoon.+Tomorrows+Senior+Night+will+honor+the+five+graduating+members+of+the+team.

Laura Mogannam

Sophomore Tommie Akamine and freshman Jacqui Carlson receive the birdie during practice match this afternoon. Tomorrow’s Senior Night will honor the five graduating members of the team.

Emily Kanellos, Reporter

After starting the competition season in February, Convent & Stuart Hall’s varsity badminton teams have begun preparations for their Senior Night on Thursday and the Bay Counties League Championships on Friday.

Some team members could possibly continue to the NCS tournament on May 13, depending on the results of this week’s BCL Championships.

“We have kind of been the underdogs,” captain Sarah Hong said. “Overtime and over the years we have just gotten way better, and we are headed in good places.”

At the beginning of the season, it was hard to get a lot of new players comfortable on the court and in the team, according to Hong. The team overcame these challenges and is now ranked seventh.

“I am proud of how supportive the team is of each other and how much they care about the sport,” coach Sarah Garlinghouse said. “I love Senior Night. It is always a lot of fun especially because we have some great seniors who have been playing all four years.”

The team is coached by Garlinghouse, Stuart Hall for Boys teacher Devin Harvey and occasionally SHB athletic director Paul Harvey.

“I am excited for Senior Night because the juniors have been working really hard to put it together,” sophomore Caroline Phillips said. “All of the seniors on our team are really great people who deserve to be recognized.”

Plans for Senior Night celebrations include decorations, food and personal notes to the five graduating seniors plus an invitation to After School Program participants to come and support the team.

“It is different this year because for senior year, as nice as it is to win, that is not really what it is about anymore,” Hong said. “I just want to enjoy my last year with my teammates and coaches.”

Senior Night will take place tomorrow May 4, at 4 p.m. at Convent, versus California Crosspoint Academy.