It’s called the Grade 7 Badminton Tournament, but “tournaments” might be more apt.
The elementary inter-school sports season wrapped up Wednesday with the Grade 7 tourney at Elijah Smith Elementary and Takhini Elementary, hosting about 90 players at each location. Although under the same name, tournament titles for each of the five divisions were awarded separately at the two schools.
“We’ve had some really good play, some really good sportsmanship,” said Lisa Harvey, an organizer at the Elijah Smith location. “The kids score their own games and have been really independent.”
At Takhini, Christ the King Elementary participants won the lion’s share of medals, taking five of 15 podium spots.
Boosted by a boisterous cheering section of classmates, Riley Bedard, of Christ the King, took gold in the boys’ singles, winning 15-11, 15-10 over silver medalist Sam Lee from Takhini Elementary in the final.
“I’m kind of shocked,” said Bedard. “Watching the other games, I didn’t really know how I’d do.”
Bedard had a hard time getting to the finals, defeating eventual bronze medalist Sam Schirmer, of Golden Horn Elementary, 14-15, 15-10, 15-14.
“That was my toughest match,” said Bedard. “People supported me and I just kept on going - perseverance.”
In a match-up of Golden Horn players, Leslie Kramer defeated teammate Katie Malo 15-11, 15-10 in the finals of the girls’ singles. Hidden Valley’s Ellen Thompson won bronze.
“I’ve never won gold before in a sport - it feels good,” said Kramer. “Katie is a really good player (and) we play together in gym.
“It would have been alright if I had taken second because everyone can win.”
Relying on solid teamwork to capture the mixed doubles title, Christ the King’s Zachary Giczi and Amanda Dendy defeated Hidden Valley’s Teah Dickson and Will Sternbergh 15-10, 15-11 in the final. Taking bronze were Kieran Stacy and Chloe Turner-Davis, from Christ the King.
“I think it was mostly a team effort,” said Dendy. “I would always take back because I’m the tallest and would have the reach, he would always take the front because he has the muscle to spike it.”
“And we always encourage each other,” said Giczi. “We were hoping for a bronze, but we got gold!”
In the girls’ doubles category, Holy Family Elementary’s Abbie Turner and Kelly Mahoney defeated teammates Mikaela Ponsiden and Sarah Ott for the title. Takhini Elementary’s Brianna Martin and Toralee Williams won the bronze.
Hidden Valley’s Liam Dinn and Trygg Jensen won gold in the boys’ doubles, defeating Josh Tobias and Spencer Panter from Christ the King in the finals. Alex Hansen and Alex Tuberfield from Christ the King captured bronze.
Results from Elijah Smith School
Girls’ singles
1st Sam Wintemute (JHS)
2nd Quynk Nguyen (ESES)
3rd Jacy Sam (Selkirk)
Boys’ singles
1st Benjamin Grundmanis (WES)
2nd Etienne Geoffrey (EET)
3rd Tristan Rentmeister (EET)
Girls’ doubles
1st Louise Ermineskin/Blair Lory (Selkirk)
2nd Aimme Bondarchuk/Angie Bondarchuk (ESES)
3rd Dalaney Paul/DesireeCoad-Broeren (ESES)
Boys’ doubles
1st Ehsan Idrees/Jack Woodwalker (ESES)
2nd Timber Stinson-Schroff/Duncan Stannard (ESES)
3rd Tristan Inglis/CassonFleshman (WES)
Mixed doubles
1st Dustyn Phelps-VanBibber/Natassja Scott (ESES)
2nd Manuel Kennedy-Kuiper/Aline Halliday (WES)
3rd Sarah Richer/TristanMcCallum (Selkirk)
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com