INNISFAIL – Two Innisfail High School badminton players finished the season on a golden note.
Grade 9 students Tiha Schadeli and Shannon Wachter are girls' doubles gold medal champions, after winning the Central West Alberta Junior High Athletic Association (CWAJHAA) badminton championship at St. Joseph’s High School in Red Deer on May 9.
“We had a wonderful season. It was capped off with a gold medal by Tiha Schadeli and Shannon Walker,” said Dean Woroniuk, coach and athletic director at the school. “Those two girls were involved with badminton since February and were practising twice a week.”
He noted the important role of fellow badminton coach Bob Klatt, who went above and beyond working with Schadeli and Walker.
“Bob also spent some extra time with them over and above during club season. He did a wonderful job with those girls,” said Woroniuk.
Schadeli and Wachter went undefeated in the tournament and were the top team at the championship.
Woroniuk said it was not the first gold medal for local high school badminton players but was a great way to finish the season.
“It takes a lot of work. They worked very, very hard and they were determined,” he said. “They won every game in the round robin and every game in the playoff round.
“We’re very proud of them,” Woroniuk concluded.
