Joey Payeur
It’s like he was Taylor-made to return.
The Muskies badminton team will only have one representative at today’s NWOSSAA championships in Wawa.
But the one is an awfully good one in the form of Taylor Whitehead, only in Grade 10, but now the owner of back-to-back NorWOSSA senior boys badminton singles championships after pulling off the repeat in Kenora last week.
Whitehead went 5-0 against a field that included Muskie teammate Jeremy Shypit, as well as players from Queen Elizabeth School in Sioux Lookout, Beaver Brae High School in Kenora and two from Whitefish Bay.
“I started out strong and as the day went on, it got better and better,” said Whitehead.
“I was becoming more consistent and getting more shots in the court,” he added.
“I was more confident going in after last year. I expected to do better and I have a better chance of doing so because I’m one year older now.”
Whitehead is the defending NWOSSAA champion heading into Wawa after capturing the title a year ago in Dryden in only his Grade 9 season.
If he can come through for another repeat, he will punch his ticket once again for the OFSAA championships, which take place in Markham from May 1-3.
“It would be great to get back to OFSAA,” stressed Whitehead. “Nothing is better than going to the tournament and not even being a senior yet.”
To get there, Whitehead anticipated having to go through one NorWOSSA rival.
“The guy from Kenora will be my toughest competition. I don’t think the people from Thunder Bay or the North Shore are as strong.”
Whitehead believes the strongest part of his game is in his head, not the racket head.
“I’m staying on top of everything better and keeping a positive attitude,” noted Whitehead, who will be joined by Muskie coach Brian Church in Wawa.
“I’ve got to remember if I miss a couple of shots to forget about it and get right back into the game.”
As for where needs to improve, Whitehead admitted, “I’ve got to remember to keep the pressure on and trick my opponents into guessing what shot is next.”
The top two from each division will advance to OFSAA, where last year Whitehead came away with fourth place in the ‘C’ Side of the draw.
