Athletic prowess and hearty enthusiasm were not enough to make up for the lack of experience for the badminton team last week, as it failed to win one game at the State Finals in Fresno.

Ida Leong, Tomoe Okaguchi, Danielle Ruedas, and Marjorie Cortez all competed in the finals last week, but lost every game.

Although they were the best doubles team in their conference, Okaguchi and Leong fell to a strong team from San Francisco.

Out of the 12 teams from the South Coast Conference, only the doubles team from Pasadena City College reached the second round.

“They didn’t have the experience necessary to overcome a strong Irvine Valley College team or the team from San Francisco,” coach John Britton said.

Okaguchi was disheartened with her performance.

“I didn’t play well,” she said, “I completely lost my confidence.”

Irvine Valley College, which has four of its team members playing for the U.S. National team won the state final.

Despite not winning a single match, Britton is pleased with his teams’ effort and has high hopes for next year.

“I look forward to seeing all the players back next year, except Ida and Tomoe, who will graduate,” he said. “Their experience will be sorely missed.”