Mitch Calvert
It may not feel like spring just yet, but “birdies” were out in full force Monday at Fort High.
The NorWOSSA badminton qualifier pitted players from across the district vying for berths at the NorWOSSA finals next Wednesday (April 15) in Dryden—with the host Muskies picking up seven.
“All the Muskie players were very focused on their games and played their best,” coach Manami Alexander enthused.
“I had a large group for the senior team this year, and we practised a lot on the basics and strategies to get ready for the tournaments,” she noted.
“I’m very impressed with their performance.”
The senior boys’ pair of Tim Desjardins and Rory Bagacki cruised to a 6-0 record to claim a spot at the NorWOSSA finals. Desjardins is hoping make his third OFSAA appearance, albeit with a new partner after Jamie Jensen graduated last June.
“I have to try extra hard because that was sort of the whole point of staying around, to try to go to OFSAA one more time,” Desjardins stressed.
“My sister, Simone, made it to OFSAA four times and actually got a medal [bronze], and my sister, Natalie, went three times so I’m trying to tie her,” he remarked.
Jensen is now a coach with the team—helping Alexander keep a large contingent of players on the same page.
“Jamie analyzes individual’s games well and gives strong advice to the players,” Alexander lauded.
“It’s so great to have him for the team because he pushes the athletes effectively, and influences them with such a positive attitude, bringing out the best results in practice and games.”
The duo of Chelsea Carlson and Kimika Alexander, in Grade 10 and Grade 9, respectively, but playing at the senior level in hopes of qualifying for OFSAA, took the first step to that goal by posting a 4-0 record in the senior girls’ doubles bracket to advance to Dryden next Wednesday.
“Our goal is OFSAA, hopefully,” Carlson said.
“It will take a lot of hard work to get there, but I think we can pull it off,” she added.
In senior boys’ singles action, Peter Jensen (4-1) finished second to Regan Arnould (5-0) of Rainy River, but both qualified for the NorWOSSA finals.
Other Muskies advancing included Dan Murray and Erika Kozar (junior mixed doubles) after they finished third with a 2-2 record.
Hannah Taylor and Jillian Berry went a perfect 4-0 in the junior girls’ doubles division while Robert Stevens and Cody Heyens were tops in junior boys’ doubles with a 5-1 record.
Ben and Shawnee Morrisseau (senior mixed doubles), meanwhile, compiled a 4-1 record and also advanced.
Besides Arnould, also qualifying for the NorWOSSA finals from Rainy River High School were Rylea Lauzon (senior girls’ singles), Justin Moen (junior boys’ singles), Courtney Hansen (junior girls), Kate Bartlett and Brenley Anderson (senior girls’ doubles), Cherrie Tang and Matt Johnson (senior mixed doubles), Cody Jarvis and Matt Godin (senior boys’ doubles), and Jordan Hansen and Catherine Whetzel (senior mixed doubles).
The top two teams in each division at the NorWOSSA finals will advance to the NWOSSAA championships April 22 in Thunder Bay, with the top two teams from each senior division then going to the all-Ontarios on May 7-9 in Sudbury.
For video of the NorWOSSA qualifier, visit www.fortfrances.tv
