While many Mercer Island spring athletes will face weather delays and rainouts this spring, the newest Islander sport means staying inside.
The girls badminton team, coached by Jessica Roy, allows athletes to stay inside, learning a game many have played in a slightly less competitive way.
“I’m from Illinois originally, and it’s been a high school sport there for as many years as I can remember,” said Roy. “So I played competitively for four years. I teach Spanish here and I thought it would be a nice way to get back involved in my athletic side. I’ve coached swimming; also, I like the idea of being at the start of something — the inaugural season and getting some things started.”
The team has 30 players, in all grades and with all different playing abilities. Roy said all team members will learn to play singles and doubles. The sport, which is recognized by the WIAA, has been offered in several Bellevue schools for a couple of years, but is slowly spreading to other Eastside buildings.
“The four Bellevue schools — Bellevue, Interlake, Sammamish and Newport — I believe they’ve been established for a few years. They’ve been playing amongst themselves for a few years, and then we are also going to be playing Foster in Tukwila. As far as KingCo, it’s the five of us,” said Roy.
The Islanders will play their first game on March 29 against Foster, but until then, Roy is helping the team focus on learning the game.
“We’re focusing on everything from the fundamentals — upperclassmen have had some net sport experience in their PE classes, but underclassmen have not,” said the coach. “It’s everything from basic athleticism like running and building endurance and strength to drills and serving. All the shots, rules, lines, etiquette — the whole thing.”
Roy said she thought the sport was attracting players because it’s something new to try.
“I think they are just excited that there is one more thing for them to do. They are just excited to get involved and be athletic. Mercer Island has a strong tradition of athletics, and it’s one more place for them to be involved,” she said.
Several of the team members said it’s a game they’ve played for fun for years, and the opportunity to try it competitively sounded fun.
“I wanted to do it as a sport. My dad played and I liked it,” said junior Alex Chapman. “Its different than I expected, but it’s fun. I’m excited to see what a game is like because I have no idea how that’s going to be.”
For freshman Vanessa Nguyen, badminton was a chance to be a part of the beginning of something.
“I played before, but just recreationally,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of the first-time sport, and I’m glad people turned out. It’s fun; I like rallying with people.”
Roy said the Islanders will quickly build strength in the game, as well as their reflexes. The coach said it’s also a mental game, learning how to read opponents on the court. Mostly, though, the coach wants to sport to grow.
“That the girls are happy and want to come back and play next year,” said Roy, of what would make it a great spring season. “That would be my biggest success, and that I have as many people [as] can return, returning. And then bringing one or two friends next year. I want it to become awesome and big, so much so that they have to repaint the lines in the gym here so we can get more courts. I’d like to see it grow.”
