By: Mr. Chong
My interview for my position at WPGA was in July 2024. I learned then and there that WPGA had no badminton team. How unusual, I thought. While the idea of starting badminton wasn’t really salient in my mind at the time , I felt subconsciously that I was going to engage with badminton at this school eventually, one way or another. It was a subtle inevitability.
While I busied myself getting to know my new job and all the wonderful characters who walk these hallowed halls, stirrings of badminton interest made themselves known, slowly but surely. Various students would often approach me with big 👉👈 energy to ask me if I’d be interested in sponsoring any kind of badminton club later in the year, to which I’d always respond…maybe.
Increasingly over time, I pondered its logistical feasibility. I pondered its potential toll on my personal time. I pondered its toll on teachers (I was informed of the many, many absences already common in the spring sports season). But I also thought about the wonderful sound of a perfect smash or clear, and I thought about how nice it would be to give some wolves a chance at learning how to make that sound and appreciate it too. I thought about how badminton is a unique context where you can often surprise yourself with maneuvers that you didn’t think your motor neurons were capable of. I thought about the sense of community that a badminton team could nurture. I thought about how much I love badminton.
One day, catalysts appeared in the form of Grace Liang and Jasmy Liu, who began asking me about what they could do to help develop badminton at WPGA. They garnered interest, communicated it to me and Mr. Garinger, and really pushed for not just a club, but for WPGA to have a team to play in the league. Ultimately, they became a significant reason that I felt this could really happen, so huge shout out to them.
Thanks to Mr. Garinger, we were able to squeeze ourselves a spot into the tier 2 leagues far past the deadline to register a team, which I only learned about on the day of our tryouts. Garinger and myself were pleasantly surprised to see the large turnout at the tryouts; it seemed like there had always been wolves who were just waiting to play more badminton. The selection process was tough and wasn’t finalized until early April, but…there it was. WPGA’s first badminton team, 2025. Our first games were in 2 weeks.
It was tough. After gauging our players’ availability, morning practices emerged as the best option. 6:45 AM start; we’d all be losing sleep for three days a week. At first it was just me coaching, but soon enough, Sunny Tai (Audrey Tai’s dad) graciously offered to come to help give advice to our players. But we all showed up, because we all wanted to get better (including me…I both welcome and dread the day that our players can consistently beat me). This indomitable growth mindset was prevalent throughout all our players for the entire season. It was to the extent that the team agreed that they’d rather be destroyed by a stronger team than to win against a weaker team, because they’d learn more from the former. I was so proud.
We went on to come second in our league, only behind the freakishly good teams from Crofton (girls) and St. Georges (Boys); pretty darn good for our first year! Next year, who knows? Maybe we’ll throw our players into the gauntlet of tier 1 badminton, where they will surely find monsters galore to challenge and learn from.
Overall, I’m super proud of WPGA for our inaugural badminton season. I extend my immense appreciation for our supportive admin, John Garinger, Sunny Tai, and every other staff or guardian who has ever shown up at practices or games to show their support for WPGA badminton (notably Sensei, several times!). I also really appreciate Grace and Jasmy for their proactivity in helping me start it. To all members of our first badminton team, be proud; you were the first brilliant sunbeams of the Dawn of WPGA Badminton.