High school badminton wrapped up over the weekend with the provincial championships in Wilkie on May 12, with Englefeld the lone local rural school in action.
Mixed Doubles
It was an excellent weekend for the Eagles’ mixed doubles squad as they picked up the provincial silver medal after posting a record of 3-2.
The competition got off to a tough start for the Eagles as they dropped their opening match two sets to none against NB Comprehensive.
Knowing they would need to run the table to have a shot at the playoffs, the Eagles came back refocused, and made quick work of Fox Valley and O’Neill #1, winning two sets to none each time.
With the 2-1 round robin record, the Eagles moved into the semi-finals where they took on Melville.
Their semi-final contest was an even affair as Melville took the opening set, before watching Englefeld roar back to win set number two.
With the match going to a third and decisive set, the two teams slugged it out, with each coming within three points of victory.
Fortunately for the Eagles they were finally able to get over the hump, winning set number three to take the match two sets to one (16-21, 24-22, 21-18).
With the win the Eagles moved into the championship final where they took on Wilkie.
The Eagles ran out of steam against an excellent Wilkie squad, and were quickly dispatched two sets to none (21-5, 21-7).
With the loss the Eagles saw their gold medal hopes come to an end as the pair came home with silver.
Boys’ Singles
While the mixed doubles squad were busy enjoying a run to the championship final, their boys singles teammate enjoyed only marginally less success, as the Eagle made a playoff run of his own, culminating in a provincial bronze medal.
The tournament got off to a tough start for the Eagle as he lost his opening match two sets to none to Evan Hardy.
Knowing a win would keep his hopes of a playoff spot still alive, the Eagle once again could not quite put together his best effort, losing two sets to none to Fox Valley.
With the loss, the Eagle sat 0-2, needing a win and some help to make the playoffs.
Fortunately, he was able to have both happen, as he got his win, and some help to pull into a three-way tie for second at 1-2.
With the tournament now in the hands of the officials, as they worked out the tiebreaker, it was the Eagle who emerged victorious and moved into the playoffs where he took on Saskatoon Walter Murray.
It was a tough match for the Eagle as he struggled to gain any traction, and was soundly beaten by the eventual provincial champion losing two sets to none (21-4, 21-5).
With the loss the Eagle moved into the bronze medal final where he took on Evan Hardy in a rematch of their round robin contest won by Evan Hardy.
After losing in the round robin, the Eagle was out for revenge, and quickly earned it taking the first set.
After Evan Hardy took the second set, the two players went into a third and decisive set with provincial bronze on the line.
This time the Eagle would not be denied his second set win of the match as he edged passed Evan Hardy in the third set to take the match two sets to one (21-16, 17-21, 21-18).
With the win the Eagle brought home provincial bronze, giving Englefeld medals in each of the two events they entered.
With the badminton season now complete, athletes will turn their focus to track and field, which begins this week with the pre-district championships in Humboldt, Quill Lake, and Strasbourg on May 15.
