Despite a tough season for the Palo Alto High School Badminton team (2-10), the Vikings have qualified for the Central Coast Section tournament by finishing in the top four of their selective events in the Santa Clara Athletic League finals last week and will look to compete against players from other schools today at 3 p.m.
Senior Tilak Misner and sophomore Jeffrey Mi played in the doubles tournament together and were two of the three players that advanced to the CCS tournament. Freshman Ivy Wang also qualified playing under the singles category.
“The teams we played at SCVALS were really good,” Mi said. “We were very fortunate to be able to make CCS.”
The CCS tournament will feature the top players and teams from all over the Central Coast; Misner and Mi feel they are ready.
The top eight of the 14 teams in the CCS tournament will advance to the prestigious Northern California Finals.
“Most of the teams in the tournament will make NorCals, so it shouldn’t be too hard to advance,” Mi said. “If we play as good as we know we can, we’re pretty confident we can advance.”
Additionally, Wang placed second in the girls singles SCVAL finals, which qualified her to participate in the CCS tournament.
“I am very happy to be representing Paly in CCS as a freshman,” Wang said. “It will be a great experience, and I look forward to it as well as the NorCal Championships.”
Similarly to Misner and Mi, Wang will have to finish in the top eight out of 14 players in the girls singles bracket to advance to NorCals.
“I would definitely like to win first place at CCS,” Wang said. “I’m going to go and play my best, and enjoy the game.”
Wang is seeded fourth in the bracket, and is optimistic about her chances of advancing to NorCals, alongside her fellow Viking teammates.
“I am also wishing the best for [Misner] and [Mi],” Wang said.
The singles and mixed doubles matches will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday at Independence High School while the boys and girls doubles matches will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the same location.
