In a season first, the El Camino College Warriors badminton team tied 9-9 against the San Diego City College Knights in their final team match at the Manhattan Beach Badminton Club on Wednesday, April 23.
While badminton is usually played for 21 points, the day’s match was modified to adjust to a shortened roster on both teams.
The Warriors had one player down while the Knights had two absent players. As a result, Warriors teammate Tiffany Hoang was unable to participate in the day’s match.
“The matches are designed so there can’t be a tie,” Warriors coach David Levin said. “Normally, there’s 21 points, but we’re not playing for 21 points because we’re short of those players.”
The dueling teams, consisting of four players each, faced off in two singles and two doubles matchups. Points are awarded for each singles game, with doubles earning two points for the winning side.
The match kicked off with a singles round, where Warriors players Anya Gore, Montila Winyaworapon, Hollie Kim and Shanaya Shaj faced off against their Knights counterparts.
Gore walked away from the two singles and the two doubles matches undefeated.
Kim fought valiantly against Dana Salas Sanchez in the first singles round, playing several minutes after her teammates’ games ended. In the end, Kim lost to Salas Sanchez.
In the first doubles round, the Warriors’ team one, consisting of Gore and Winyaworapon, squared off against the Knights’ team one, Maruyama and Bejarano.
Team two, consisting of Shaj and Kim, paired off against Knights’ team two players Salas Sanchez and Theona Trang Phan.
The second round of doubles saw the teams alternate their opponents.
In the end, Gore and Winyaworapon defeated both of the Knights’ doubles teams. Meanwhile, Shaj and Kim walked away empty-handed.
“They both improved their results from earlier this season,” Levin said. “I’m really pleased, this sets them up well going to the state championship.”
During the second singles match, Winyaworapon beat Bejarano, but the victory came at a cost. While playing, the strings of her racket popped.
“I didn’t realize [the strings popped] until the San Diego coach pointed it out,” Winyaworapon said. “I didn’t hear it pop. I really liked that racket. I didn’t use it for some time, then when I use it for this game… pop!”
In the end, the Warriors tied 9-9 with the Knights.
The Warriors will end their season before the South Coast Conference Championships with a win-loss ratio of 3-6-1.
As a result, both the Warriors and the Knights will be moving on to the South Coast Conference Championships.
“I think they did the best that we could do without having our fifth girl,” Knights coach Darby Duprat said.
The next match will be held Friday, May 2 at the Manhattan Beach Badminton Club.
“At that event, we will qualify players for the state [championship],” Levin said. “I’m anticipating that we’ll qualify both Anya and Montilla. But anything can happen. It’s sports.”
