CHARLES TWEED/Ponoka News
The Ponoka Composite High School Broncs badminton team had a strong contingent of about 25 players this year from Grade 9 to 12. The team practiced twice a week in preparation for the year and coach Jim Lank said it wasn’t uncommon for the students to play during the community drop-in time on Sundays.
“The badminton season is really short for the school so we run club badminton on Sundays and it’s open to anyone in the community but we had a lot of diehard players that would come out and get extra practice,” said Lank.
The extra work paid off as the Broncs had some good finishes throughout the season.
In boys doubles, Jared Nicolls and Chase Staldeker picked up a silver medal at CWAJHAA while Sarah Green and Caitlin McLaren finished tied for second in their pool in girls’ doubles.
Junior mixed double partners Jason Rausch and Amy Lank earned a silver at the Alberta School’s Athletic Associations provincials in Strathmore while Jacee Devries and Emily Jensen grabbed top honors and a gold medal in senior girls doubles at provincials.
“It went really well and overall I was really happy with the season. Anytime you make provincials that’s quite an accomplishment and then to get a couple of medals and have two teams make CWAJHAA (Central Western Alberta Junior High Athletic Association), it was really good,” said Lank.