⅔ is a special number for Poly badminton. ⅔ of the coaches are new and ⅔ of the players are freshmen.
This season, Poly badminton welcomed two acclaimed coaches from the San Gabriel Valley Badminton Club, Coach Luis Montoya and Coach Tyson Lo. With the continued leadership from Head Coach Alister Casey, the former Olympic coach for the 2016 and 2020 teams, and a professional player, the three are ready to revitalize Poly badminton.
“Poly 2024 is a rebuilding year, as we train the upcoming freshman to have a strong foundation,” said Montoya.
In practice, the team started to implement more personalized drills, which contrasted with the team’s previous approach, where the players learned mostly by scrimmaging one another.
A player favorite was the “multi-bird feeding” drill, where a coach rapidly launched shuttlecocks, also known as birdies, at a player, which mimicked the fast-paced environment of a real game. The drill not only enhanced reaction time but also imbued players with the experience of high-intensity gameplay.
Junior Jake Huang, captain of the men’s team alongside junior Max Ismagilov, said, “The freshmen show a lot of promise, and I hope that we, as leaders, can cultivate a love and passion for badminton in the new generation.”
Freshman Kara Kang commented, “[I’m] really excited about the upcoming season. Everyone seems very committed and the coaching is really good. I’m new to badminton and all three coaches (Coach Tyson, Coach Luis, and Coach Casey) have been really helpful with the basics.”
The team has faced its share of challenges this season. On March 5th, they faced a crushing 20-1 loss. Last year, the team did not find its rhythm, averaging a 16% win rate. Also, this year, they are playing for the first time in four years without their star player, Alice Wang, who graduated in 2023.
The team must train the new freshmen quickly if they want to see success this season.
“It’s hard to unite a team where only one or two people play at a time,” said Huang. Encouraging team spirit is at the front of all four badminton captains’ minds.
However, freshman Audrey Ma said, “[The] team spirit has been fostered by both my teammates and my coaches. In addition, my coaches also challenge us to be our best selves. I think both of these elements will make for a great season!”
The combination of new drills, new players and strong team spirit leaves nothing but anticipation for what Poly badminton will do. Montoya’s hope for the team to win the league may be in reach.
