With Yokino Noro, 23, not being able to play last minute due to the disaster in Japan, other players on the team had to step up and compete.
“She’s from a town [in Japan] that was ripped apart by the tsunami so she’s trying to locate her family,” John Britton, coach, said. “Our thoughts are with her.”
However, even without one of their most experienced player, the Warriors managed to get their first win of the season 19-2 against Compton College last Friday.
The Warriors will once again be up against Compton College at home 3:00 pm, Wednesday.
Due to the inexperience of the Compton team, Britton said he is confident that the next game will be a success for the Warriors as well.
“It feels good, we worked hard,” Tanille Barnes, 19, said. “I was pretty confident going in to the game because a lot of the players [on the Compton team] were beginners.”
The team was also at an advantage due to the cancelation of some of its previous games.
The team has not played since the Warriors got completely overmatched by East L.A. College in the season opener by a score of 21-0.
“The days we were supposed to be playing were turned into practice sessions,” Britton said. ” it actually helped us a lot and it was good for the girls to get the extra practice.”
The previous four games were canceled to allow Britton, former U.S. Men’s National Champion for doubles, to attend the 100th anniversary of Scottish badminton where the patron of Scottish badminton, Prince Edward, was present.
“I used to play for Scotland before I came to America and so I got honored as the top doubles player of the last century,” Britton said.
During Britton’s absence, his daughter, winner of several U.S. Junior badminton championships, took charge of the team and lead the practices.
The additional practice for players showed instant results with new players Vanessa Reid winning her first doubles and Ramie Flamengo winning two singles and a double.
“Considering I’ve only been to four practices and I’ve never played badminton before, it was totally new to me and so when I won I was just like ‘Oh, that’s exciting!’” Flamengo said. “I totally wasn’t expecting it. “
