Somebody had to win and somebody had to lose and for three sets it could have been either of them.
Sacred Heart's Kylie Chupa may have even surprised herself a little bit when she stood as Yorkton's last shot at a placing in the high school provincial badminton tournament qualifications.
The Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association badminton tournament was a senior team playoff, determining who would advance to the provincial playdowns.
Sacred Heart's Chupa was among a handful of locals who played well.
Her coach Jim Grela was equally pleased with the Gr. 12 student's ability to bounce back and force a third and deciding set Saturday afternoon at the Regional.
Chupa looked beat up following her last match, but that was after she almost dominated a second set in which she won 21-14.
She had dropped the opener 18-21, and that set up a third set.
She overcame a deficit to make it close but in the end, fell out of provincial contention with a 19-21 set back.
"She's been very competitive," stated Grela, minutes after the final blow had been dealt.
"Everything kind of fell into play," she suggested, still gassed from the match.
She couldn't help but admit some shock realizing she was the closest one to reaching provincials.
"It surprised me. I am very surprised," she said still half out of breath.
"It was a good day, her best day," offered Grela. "She did just fine."
The sets Chupa lost were decided by three or fewer points. The set she won, she made it sound like it was child's play.
"Pressure? I never feel pressure," she told the paper. "Winning that second game was mandatory (for me).
On her way to the bronze medal game, in which the winner advanced to the provincials due to a dropout from the top spot winner, Chupa fell to her first opponent from Annaheim, SK., 14-21 and 13-21.
She took Whitewood to three sets, 23-25, 21-13 and 12-21. Then she knocked off Oxbow 21-17 and 21-15.
Other SHHS competition saw the boys' doubles team of Mark Kuemper and Travis Inglis finish in second in their pool. They played Annaheim, 16-21, 21-19 and 9-21.
They beat Notre Dame in two straight sets, 21-16 and 21-17, and beat Mivale, 22-20, 18-21 and 21-14.
The SHHS mixed team of Bailee Skikewich and Troy Waggoner were also close to provincial qualification, beating Bellevue 21-15, 20-22, 21-19, they beat Montmarte but fell to Yellow Grass 14-21 and 9-21.
