Sport - Badminton

It was an epic day at the Upper Hume Badminton at the Wodonga Leisure Centre , with 33 players across 6 teams competing and doing us proud.

Our year 8 boys became the Upper Hume champions after defeating crosstown rivals Cathedral College 4-2 in the all-Wangaratta final. Number 1 and 2 seeds Clarence Lampa (21-15) and Hugh Spring (21-10) both dominated their singles matches, before the team won both doubles contests to put it beyond doubt - Lampa & Spring (21-13), then Lachlan Downing & Zach Wills (21-11). 

The 8 boys had earlier booked their place in the final by putting in a casket the Wodonga Middle Years Huon campus 6-0, and then winning 5-1 against a tough Victory Lutheran College Wodonga. The victory vsVictory was on the back of winning 3 of the 4 singles battles by a matter of points - Lampa (21-19), Spring (21-18) and Downing (24-22). They then picked them apart in both doubles matches - Lampa & Spring (21-8), then Downing & Wills (21-14). 

This result can be attributed to the boys matching considerable talent, with practise. They have trained in the sport centre regularly over the last fortnight, virtually every lunchtime. Well done boys. The boys now progress to the ​Hume Region stage on Tuesday 20th August in Shepparton. Can they make it to the state finals like our year 8 girls did both last year, and the year before as year 7s?

For Bagley, Lampa & Wills, it's a chance to make their 2nd State Championship event this year, after making the lawn bowls edition. They should be even stronger next time, regaining Isaac Robinson who missed today to illness.

Elsewhere, both of our year 7 teams performed tremendously, finishing 2nd to Grace Christian College, who are the crack badminton school at the moment.

The 7 girls (Millie Bosley, Arwen Castens-Hall, Paige-Lee Dummett, Willow Norris, Polly Oats and Annabelle Wills) defeated local rivals Cathedral College first up (3-3, 114-83), with dominant wins from Norris (21-4) and Bosley (21-2),  and top 2 seeds Norris & Dummett winning their doubles encounter (21-14). 

The 7 girls then demolished Victory Lutheran College 6-0, with all ​of their top 4 seeds winning their singles matches - Norris (21-16), Dummett (21-8), Bosley (21-8) and Wills (21-18). The girls then pushed eventual champions Grace Christian College to the brink in the Final, with Bosley and Wills both winning their singles to level it 2-2 before the doubles, where they sadly fell short to bow down 2-4. Like the year 8 boys, these girls had been practising daily, and deserved their results. Apart from Millie, none had ever tried badminton before, even in a P.E. class.

The year 7 boys, all of who had never played the sport until last week, also finished an admirable 2nd. Led by their top 3 seeds Teo Valle (1), Mason Skermer (2) and Noah Anderson (3), they 'swept' Cathedral College (6-0) and Wodonga Middle Years College (6-0), and tore up Victory Lutheran College (5-1), but succumbed to eventual winner Grace Christian College (1-5). Overall a great effort by boys who will be much better for the experience next year.

Our intermediate girls were heartbreakingly unlucky. After winning their 1st two rounds against Wodonga Middle Years College's Felltimber Campus (4-2) and Victory Lutheran College (6-0), they had an agonising draw against Grace Christian College, level with 3 match wins each, and incredibly the same number of 'points won' (100). A count back saw Grace progress to the Final, as they had one more win against the other schools than us. 

Our year 8 girls also had terrible luck, with number1 seed Ruby DeFazio rolling her ankle in the warm up minutes after arriving at the venue, then having to spend the rest of the day on ice. The8 girls were still good enough to finish 2nd in their pool and 3rd overall. They swept Catholic College Wodonga (6-0) and put away Wodonga Middle Years College (4-2), but were stitched up by a strong Victory Lutheran College who ended up sweeping Grace CC in the Final.

Our senior girls came up up against two very strong outfits from Grace Christian College and Catholic College Wodonga, but were good sports.

Overall it was a sterling day. Thanks to all 33 players and our large cheer squad for coming along. We once again had the largest contingent at the event, with some much larger schools failing to enter some teams, or at all.

NOTE - Heaps more photos of the day on Facebook.

Jud Mullins

Sports Coordinator