LAC LA BICHE - JAWS badminton players brought home gold and silver hardware from Zone playoffs in Fort McMurray on April 24.
The J.A. Williams High School sent 12 student athletes to the Northeast Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (NEASSA) badminton zones. Students from across northern Alberta were represented at the event. Four members of the JAWS team will be heading to the provincial high school badminton championships in Edmonton next month.
Andrew Przyzblski, the coach of the JAWS team, said Zackary Przybylski and Harvee Valente won gold, racking up a perfect 6-0-win record at the event in Intermediate Boys doubles. Teammate Josh Aquino finished with a silver in the Senior Boys singles category, and Fionah Dizon won gold in the Junior Girls Singles category. She also went undefeated through her six games.
“They will all represent JAWS at Provincials in May at the Saville Center in Edmonton,” Przyzblski told Lakeland This Week.
Just a few points in each game separated the other JAWS athletes from a provincial seat, said Przyzblkski, calling it a really good competition and a great showing for all the JAWS players. Other members of the team are Callum McKinley and Keenan Mah, Cooper Okrainec and Cyrus Gomez, Brody Finnestad and Kat Masuba, as well as Faiza Chowdhury and Giripriya Panicker.
Przyzblski said all these JAWS athletes were very close to making it to provincials as many lost in the playoff round.
He added that overall, it was another good season for the JAWS badminton program. He is looking forward to next year as the current team builds on their experience and new players join the school team.
