Muskies up for OFSAA challenge

Sisters are doing it for themselves.
The sibling duo of Simone and Natalie Desjardins have a firm grasp on their rackets and reality, as the Muskie senior girls doubles combination heads to Milton for the all-Ontario badminton championships beginning tomorrow.
With Toronto-area players who are enrolled in year-round training sessions on hand, the pair accepts that they’re in over their head if they expect to win the overall title. That’s not stopping them from setting high goals at a lower level.
“I think we can get the ‘C’ Division gold and maybe even place third or fourth in ‘B’ Division,” predicted Simone, the older half of the duo which are earning their stripes in senior competition even though both are still of junior age eligibility.
A season that began with a sudden change in direction for both players has seen them join forces to roll through the high school competitive schedule undefeated, including gold medal victories at the NorWOSSA playdowns in Kenora two weeks ago and last Wednesday’s NWOSSAA championships in Thunder Bay.
Grade 10 player Simone went to the all-Ontarios last year in singles, and was preparing for a repeat performance in the same category. Meanwhile, her Grade 9 sister Natalie was set to participate in senior mixed doubles with Jason Pattison.
But when Pattison broke his wrist at the Fort Frances Badminton Club open tournament just before the start of the NorWOSSA schedule, Muskie senior coach Manami Alexander decided to pool the talents of the Desjardins sisters.
She hasn’t had a single regret about the decision.
“(The Desjardins) were nervous, especially Natalie, who wasn’t used to playing such tough teams as this,” said Alexander about the NWOSSAA playdowns, which saw the team go 5-0 to earn the gold.
“But they kept smiling, even when they were losing points. The girls were very happy when they knew they had made it.”
Alexander pointed to Simone’s experience and steadying influence as a central factor in the Desjardins’ performance.
“Simone has been a real leader for the team,” praised Alexander. “She’s felt the increase in responsibility, but she has stayed calm and helped Natalie do the same.”
Simone agreed, saying teasingly during Monday night’s practice, “Sometimes Natalie can get a little overexcited. It’s important that I keep her calmed down.”
Natalie accepted the critique good-naturedly, saying “It’s only because I’m happy that we’re winning that I get excited.”
While the pair has played in tournaments together in the past, Simone did have an adjustment period in re-learning the doubles rotation strategy after competing exclusively in singles last year.
She’s pleased with her progress in that area, as is Natalie with her serving game.
“I’m keeping my serve lower and closer to the top of the net, so they can’t smash it back so easily,” Natalie explained.
While the all-Ontarios will be all new to Natalie, Simone is as pumped up for her return engagement at the tournament as her sister is to be debuting.
“It’s more fun this year to be able to have someone else make it to OFSAA with you,” said Simone, who finished third in the “C” Division of girls’ singles a year ago. “Going by myself last year, there were no teammates to talk to, and it made for a long trip.”
Lake Superior High School’s senior girls double squad gave the Desjardins their toughest test to date at the NWOSSAA championship, forcing the sisters into their first three-game match of the year.
But after winning the first game 15-5 and losing the second 15-7, the Desjardins got their rackets rolling in the third, pulling away for a 15-6 victory.
All their other matches were two-game sweeps over Fort William Collegiate Institute (15-0, 15-2), St. Ignatius from Thunder Bay (15-2, 15-6), Michipicoten High School (15-8, 15-3) and fellow Muskies Jen Lawson and Sarah Paterson (15-3, 15-7).
That tandem suffered the same fate as the year before, when they came within a point of making it to the all-Ontarios. This time, their 3-2 record and bronze medal result put them one victory short.
Lawson and Paterson won in two-straight games over Fort William (15-7, 15-1), St. Ignatius (15-2, 15-3), and Michipicoten (15-7, 15-10). But their 2-0 defeat against Lake Superior (15-3, 15-1) coupled with the loss to the Desjardins sealed their fate.
“Jen and Sarah played well, but started losing control of their shots against Lake Superior,” said Alexander. “They tried to come back, but their lack of tournament experience hurt them.
“They did their best, though, and I’m sure they know that.”