Competition at regional playoffs in Moose Jaw were fierce over the weekend, says Jim Grela, head coach of the Saints of Sacred Heart badminton squad.
"Through some very tough matches the results were as follows: First in their pool of boys' doubles were Jeremy Johnson and Mark Kuemper," says Grela.
Also doing well were the girls' doubles teams of Ashley Chillog and Bailey Inglis. Their biggest competition came from within their own school, says coach Grela. The other team of Taniya Heuchert and Andrea Redl finished second in their pool, which narrowly missed in an all-Sacred Heart final in girls' doubles.
All in all, Grela is very happy with what he's seen so far. In fact he told the paper his only problem at this point in that most of the players listed above are in their final year of high school.
"They're really doing well this year,' he says of the Chillog/Inglis team, adding that "everyone kind of saw them as underdogs."
Also worthy of note is that Sacred Heart is sending all four to the provincial championships, a feat Grela claims has yet to be reached within the land of the Saints.
"This is the most we've ever sent to provincial badminton. I don't know what to expect," he admits.
Johnson and Kuemper are the Saints' other chance for a first place finish. Both are very athletic and very dedicated, said Grela.
"Jeremy and Mark both started last year. They've really come around and have good chemistry with each other."
Heuchert, Redl, Kuemper and Johnson leave for Wilkie on Saturday for provincials.
