By: Siyona Singhal
Humor Editor
As the spring season unfolds, the LGHS badminton team is building on its initial skills and fostering an environment of determination, teamwork, and pride.
At the center of the team’s leadership is one of its captains, Andy Zhou, whose commitment, skill, and ability to motivate others have played a key role in shaping the team’s success. Zhou elaborated, “Leading the team that I’ve been on for three years now is an amazing opportunity that the coaches have given me. I love connecting with all my teammates and making sure everyone’s noticed, and playing.” As captain, Zhou has adapted to his new role. He has to “manage and teach a lot. I have to be more hands-on with a bunch of my teammates.” Last year, Zhou was more focused on himself as a player, but now he feels the responsibility of helping his teammates as well. By the end of the season, Zhou hopes to see “all my teammates improve at their game. And I want to make sure that everyone’s friends, and that everyone’s included, because we’re one big team.” To reach this goal, Zhou makes sure to talk to people individually, so he gets to know every player and can bring the team together. Zhou’s personal goal is to be a role model to his teammates, so when he graduates, other team members will keep the same energy and community. He explained, “I try to be carefree and easygoing. I think that brings a lot of the atmosphere of the team. I just try to be the best person I can and show that you can do whatever you want, and if you want it, you can go for it.”
Reflecting on his first season, freshman Benjamin Li offered insight into his experience. Though Li played for a year before joining the team, he still had little competitive experience, making him feel hesitant at first: “I felt slightly intimidated at first because I didn’t know people were this good, but then afterwards, I just realized it’s a good community.” Li enjoys playing doubles because he and his partner are very coordinated and have unrivaled chemistry, leading to many victories. This year, Li is focusing on improving his skills by going to every practice, attending tournaments, and watching upperclassmen play. Li advised students who want to join the team: “Your current skill does not affect how you’re gonna play, because in the future, this team will actually help you improve a lot.”
Offering a seasoned perspective, junior Adelaide Davis reflected on her experiences during her third year on the team. Davis currently plays doubles. She hopes to work on her communication with her partner and is attempting this by discussing strategy before and during every match. She looks forward to league matches and is enjoying the new players on the team, mentioning that they have a lot of potential.
As the team moves into the end of their season, they hold a 7-3 record, beating talented opponents and pulling through close matches with teams including Santa Clara High School. Overall, the LGHS badminton team continues to work hard and foster a great community!