DHS badminton team advances to Sections

By Grace Kishiyama

PHOTO- The Davis High badminton team has seen major success this year, as they will now advance to the section playoffs.

The Davis High badminton team played in the Monticello Empire League (MEL) tournament at Vacaville High School on May 5 and 6. The annual tournament is a two-day double elimination tournament that involves six schools: DHS, Armijo High School, Rodriguez High School, Fairfield High School and Will C. Wood High School.

This year, DHS was able to send three singles players (Rowan Baar , Jocelyn Starr  and Jennifer Lee ) and four doubles teams (Melissa Lee and Chiara Wu, Helena Wei and Dua Hassan, Angela Li and Annie Zhu and Yanjun Liu and Kelly Su). In total, 11 players went. 

The team fared well, with two doubles teams advancing to the Section Playoffs which will take place on May 13 and 14.

However, senior and doubles player Melissa Lee felt she could have played better.

“Once we got to (the winner’s bracket) finals, we were the only ones playing so the gym was still packed but it was dead silent. I think the nerves and pressure from such a quiet (and) intense environment got to us so we made a lot of unforced errors during the first game, which caused us to lose,” Lee said.

However, Lee said she and Wu were able to turn it around.

“We had a rematch since that was our first loss of the tournament. We were able to win that match and become the doubles champions in the League,” Lee said.

Seniors and doubles partners Helena Wei and Dua Hassan also advanced to Sections. 

“On Friday we played four games and even though we were exhausted, we fought for every point and didn’t give up. I’m very proud of the way we played,” Wei said.

Wei enjoyed her time at the tournament.

“I feel like we had very good communications throughout our games and I can definitely see the improvement we’ve made throughout the season … It was such a fun experience to see all the best players all in one place playing each other and I was very honored to be able to represent our team at MELs,” We said. 

Lee and Wu placed first in the tournament and Wei and Hasan placed third. The two pairs will advance to the Section playoffs.