The spring sports season has arrived and that means season previews! In this preview, we take a look at badminton.

Note: All coaches were contacted multiple times via email for this exercise. Those responses are shown below. Not on here? Contact Michael Wojtychiw (mmwojtychiw@cps.edu) for more information.

School name: Walter Payton

Last year’s record: 9-3

Social media handles: Instagram: wpcpbadminton

Starters returning (name, position, year in school, stats/honors if available):

Hailain Yu (Sr.) – 2x reigning Singles City Champion, qualified for State Championship Tournament Spring 23

Ashley Strauss (Jr.) – Doubles City Champion

Hannah Ding (Sr.) – Doubles City Runner-up

Nina Shinall (Sr.) – Singles top 10 finish last year in City tournament

Key non-starters returning (name, position, year in school, stats if available):

Channing Lee (Sr.) – Leader and great competitor for our team.

Key newcomers:

Sophie Hong (So.) – Skilled and will be playing with Hannah Ding in Doubles this year

Shefali Gupta (Jr.) – Hard working leader that will play Doubles with Ashley Strauss this year 

Inika Bansal (So.) – Talented athlete that will look to make a splash in Singles

Big games/matchups:

3/11- Quad @ Reavis

3/16- 16 Team Tournament @ Hinsdale South

4/6- Quad @ Lincoln Way West

4/8- Conference match against Whitney

4/15- Non-conference match against Roosevelt

4/18- Non-conference match against OPRF

Coach’s season outlook:

Payton is looking to continue our reign as City Champions.  We have won all of the city championships in CPL 6 year history of the sport.  

School: Roosevelt / Von

Last Year’s Conference Record: 5-0

Overall Record: 10-1

Social Media Handle: @roughpanthersbadminton (Instagram)

Starters Returning:

#1 Doubles

Hana Fazlic (Jr) / Alba Oliva (Jr)

#1 Single

Cerela Marin (Sr)

Key Non-Starters Returning: 

Angela Thomas- Played as a Doubles last year and now improved to #2 Singles 

Newcomers to Watch:

1. Junior Melenie Delgado was a part of last year’s #2 Doubles team. She switched is now #2 Singles
2. Senior Nashly Condo is playing her first year as a #4 Single.

Coach’s Season Outlook:

1. Last year, we placed 1^st in conference and 4^th in city as a team. We are looking to keep that conference championship and improve for the city championship to place 1^st. 
2. Doubles players- Junior Hana Fazlic and Junior Alba Oliva placed 3^rd in city hoping to take 1^st.

School name: Whitney M. Young High School

Last year’s record: 9-1

Social media handles:  wygirlsbadminton

Starters returning (name year in school):

Caherine Xu- Senior

Arushi Virmani- Senior

Sunshine Pang- Senior

Caroline Chen- Junior

Sam Park- Junior

Michelle Yee- Sophomore 

Key newcomers:

Aryana Collins- Senior

Mia Distel- Junior

Natalie Chin- Sophomore

Sarida Silapaduriyang- Sophomore

Anushri Virmani- Sophomore

Kylie Watts- Sophomore

Mira McDermott- Freshman

Autumn Moon- Freshman

Kinzie Warner- Freshman

Big games/matchups:

Coach’s season outlook: We’re looking forward to developing our program with new players on board this year while our sights are set on City!