Jenna Reynolds, Laike Reader, Adela Martinez, Michaela Dye, Lauren Kater and MaKenna Hold. What do all these badminton players have in common? They are all undefeated. With a great start to the season Perry dominates the doubles matches undefeated.

The key to a winning team?

“Great teamwork and great coaching.” senior Jenna Reynolds shares. The girls have become extremely close and are all  in agreement that their camaraderie is what makes them strong teammates.

“We’re a really close-knit family,” junior Laike Reader shares. “They help me a lot and keep me in really high spirits and good attitude.” The team provides a very relaxed, fun atmosphere when they’re together.

“We talk to each other during the games even if it’s just something silly to keep our minds focused and also to have fun at the same time.” senior MaKenna Hold comments. In doubles, two players share the court creating a team aspect to the sport that may not be found in singles. For that reason, many of the players state playing doubles is much less demanding.

“[playing doubles is] easier because you always have that other person back there to help you out.” senior Adela Martinez replies. The team has developed many tactics that aid in their teamwork skills.

“My partner and I work really well together, we communicate well so we’re able to know where to go on various plays.” senior Michaela Dye responds.

The team’s fast improvement as far as communication skills are concerned has really aided in their undefeated streak.

“We started communicating better on the court in doubles to where they’re letting their partner know what type of a serve their going to serve,  whether its short or long then the partner behind knows whether to cover the weak side or to move up to cover for a drop.They communicate before its even served and then they can prepare for the return,” head coach Lerina Johnson informs.

For these juniors and seniors, badminton is a great postseason sport as well as a hobby.

“I do it for fun as an off season sport while I’m playing softball.” Martinez comments. She then shared how her softball skills easily convert to badminton.

“You need speed and good footwork for [both] badminton and softball.”

While many people overlook badminton as an easy sport with little skill necessary, the girls on the team would disagree.

Each member of the team plays a vital part in determining their chances of state championships. The girls continue to play with confidence and high hopes and are determined to continue their undefeated streak in doubles with the help of a great coach and supportive teammates.

For these juniors and seniors, badminton is a great postseason sport as well as a hobby.

“I do it for fun as an off season sport while I’m playing softball.” Martinez comments. She then shared how her softball skills easily convert to badminton.

“You need speed and good footwork for [both] badminton and softball.”

While many people overlook badminton as an easy sport with little skill necessary, the girls on the team would disagree.

“It’s not an easy sport,” Dye states. “You have to develope a lot of strategies. It’s not a game of just hitting back and forth, it’s trying to find all the holes in the court and all the places the other person can’t get in.”

Along with student’s dismissal of badminton’s needed skills, the school has also given the team plenty of pressure to make it to state. However the girls do not feel the pressure at all.

“We think about [how] overall we’re suppose to have fun. It’s not so serious that if we don’t win state you’re an abomination, it’s mostly about fun. When we lose we’re like ‘hey you got to try next time,’” Reader shares. “Thats one of our strengths.”

With their sites on state championships, all the team’s hard work is driven towards this title.

“It’s a really high goal, it would be awesome to achieve because most people can’t just say ‘hey I’ve won a championship for badminton’ its really unique and cool.” Dye shares enthusiastically. Many of the girls are in agreement that with supportive teamwork and constant practice the team will achieve their goal.

“For the rest of the season I’m going to try not to lose any more games because I’ve lost only at singles,” Dye continues. “I just want to do the best because it is my last season and I want to do as well as I can.”

While there is always something to work on, the team has greatly improved and become a very close family with great teamsmanship

“They’re biggest team strength is knowing the other partners weaknesses,” coach Johnson agrees.

Each member of the team plays a vital part in determining their chances of state championships. The girls continue to play with confidence and high hopes and are determined to continue their undefeated streak in doubles with the help of a great coach and supportive teammates.