Mitch Calvert
A pair of Muskie doubles teams survived the NWOSSAA qualifier in Thunder Bay last week and advanced to the OFSAA badminton championship set for May 7-9 in Sudbury.
Senior boys’ duo Tim Desjardins and Rory Bagacki went undefeated in five matches to claim top spot in their division while Chelsea Carlson and Kimika Alexander went 4-1 in senior girls’ doubles to nab the second of two OFSAA berths up for grabs.
Carlson and Alexander edged a strong Dryden team in three sets in their opening match to set the stage for a strong showing in the Lakehead.
“Our team beat this opponent at NorWOSSA [the previous] week, so the Dryden girls were playing very hard trying to beat our girls,” Muskie coach Manami Alexander noted.
“We were at the bench watching with our heart beating so fast, the rallies went back and forth, the score was 20-19, and Chelsea and Kimika got the match point.
“The rally went on and on, back and forth, with amazingly tight shots,” Alexander enthused.
The Muskie pair also beat two teams from St. Ignatius and one from Manitouwadge, with their only blemish coming in a three-set loss to a team from Michipicoten (Wawa).
Both girls actually are junior-aged (Grade 10 and 9, respectively) but were moved up early and it paid dividends with an OFSAA berth.
“I wasn’t totally sure about my decision when they started to face some tough games, but now I’m glad about my decision,” Alexander said.
“They are so happy to be able to compete at OFSAA along with Tim and Rory.”
Desjardins and Bagacki, meanwhile, cruised through their bracket with five straight-set victories, beating St. Ignatius 21-5 and 21-7, St. Patrick 21-5 and 21-8, Michipicoten 21-8 and 21-10, Manitouwadge 21-11 and 21-19, and Kenora 21-13 and 21-15.
“They played their doubles style games and didn’t give many points away,” Alexander noted. “I didn’t have to give intense coaching between games [and] it was easy to watch their games with confidence.
“They were communicating well on the court to stay strong as a team, and did what they were supposed to do, “ she added.
Meanwhile, in the junior girls’ bracket at NWOSSAA, Muskies Jillian Berry and Hannah Taylor earned top honours with a perfect 5-0 record.
Since the OFSAA level doesn’t include junior teams, the promising pair will have to wait until next season for a chance at a provincial medal.
“I was also very excited to receive [news of] Jillian and Hannah’s victory at the other school,” Alexander said of the junior competition.
“They are ready to play on the senior team next year,” she noted. “I’m sure they will be joining us on the OFSAA trip next year.”
Alexander admitted coaching her own daughter at this level was a unique and challenging experience, but praised the efforts of new coach Jamie Jensen for his calming influence from the sidelines.
“I really was glad to have Jamie as another coach,” Alexander stressed. “Honestly, it was hard for me to coach my own daughter.
“He coached her well, and had her focus on the games and skills she had to work on.
“Jamie talked to each player with coaching from different angles and strategic points, and I would like thank Jamie for all the help,” she remarked.
