The Sacred Heart High School (SHHS) badminton team participated in the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association (SHSAA) District badminton tournament which was held at the Melville Comprehensive School last Monday.
According to team coach Jim Grela, the team did well in competition.
"The SHHS senior badminton team had an extremely successful district badminton tournament on April 18. Three of the SHHS teams (ladies singles, boys doubles and mixed doubles) are district champions. As well, they added a bronze medal to that total," states Grela.
Winning the ladies singles' gold medal, wearing proudly around her neck was Kylie Chupa, Grela told the paper. She beat Brittany Brenzen of the Yorkton Regional High School to lay claim to gold.
While the mixed doubles team of Troy Waggoner and Bailee Skikewich won gold in their category by getting the best of Esterhazy, the boys' doubles team of Mark Kuemper and Travis Inglis finished tops on the day too, explains Grela. Kuemper and Inglis knocked off their Yorkton Regional High School counterparts to win gold. The SHHS mixed team of Nathan Guy and Emily Kruger ensured a little variety of colour in the SHHS trophy cabinet this spring.
They supplied the lone bronze medallions for the school. Grela said they beat Invermay.
"At districts the girls singles, boys doubles and Troy and Bailee (mixed doubles) all finished first in their pools.Nathan and Emily finished second in their pool.Both SHHS mixed doubles teams played off in the semi finals and Troy and Bailee defeated Nathan and Emily," says Grela.
Each singles player and doubles team all had very impressive win/loss records that day in Melville, explained Grela.
"Kylie only lost one game in her pool. Mark and Travis were undefeated in their pool. Troy and Bailee were undefeated in their pool. Nathan and Emily only lost one game in their pool."
The three gold-winning teams now represent SHHS when they compete at the regional championship.
Says Grela via email to YTW: "All I might add is that most of the matches were very competitive and that I am very happy with our play so far this year.Our players have really risen up and met the challenge this year."
In the semi final, the boys' doubles team beat Canora, 21-16, 21-11, the mixed doubles team beat their SHHS teammates 21-16 and 21-13.
And the girls' singles, 21-13 and 21-12 vs. Melville Comprehensive.
Scores of the gold medal games were as follows: boys' doubles, 21-16 and 21-19 over the YRHS, girls singles won 21-10 and 21-12 over YRHS and mixed doubles' won 21-17 and 23-21 over Esterhazy.
Mixed doubles won 21-15 and 21-12 over Invermay.
For regionals, the SHHS teams won't have far to travel, in fact they can all walk down the street to the Yorkton Regional High School on May 7.
Grela told Yorkton This Week that even bigger stakes are ahead with the SHSAA provincials of high school badminton take place on May 14 in Biggar, Saskatchewan.
Grela also told the paper that a 1-2 finish is required at the YRHS tournament in order to qualify for provincials.
SHHS JUNIORS
Results from the Sacred Heart junior team's badminton tournament, also held in Melville: Morgan Shymanski, gold, girls singles, Kristen Jonassen/Riana Skikewich won gold medals in girls doubles, Hanna Hansen/Montana Balyskey, gold, mixed doubles.
Silver medals went to: Justin Poirier, boys singles, and Jaedon Pellatt/Justin Guy, boys doubles. Other teams playing included: Melville Comprehensive School, Yorkton Regional High School, St. Henry (Melville), Grayson.
"The team played very well," said Brian Chisholm, coach of Sacred Heart. "They are looking forward to districts on May 3 where SHHS will have individuals or teams participating in eight categories.
