Irvington’s Badminton Team played their final game and held their Senior Night on Thursday, April 30, ending their season with a strong record of 13-1. While the scoreboard tells an impressive story of success, the team’s remarkability lies within the ability to adapt through internal changes to continuously achieve victory.

The coaching philosophy was the driving force behind the team’s victories. By taking the backseat, the coaches let player autonomy take the wheel. “We let them choose their partners and what they wanted to play more so than we did in the past,” Coach Strout noted. “Our job as coach is mainly to manage the team and make sure they know what to do, where to be, and be more like parents than coaches because a lot of them train on their own.” As a result, expanding player agency gave them the flexibility to subsequently excel and perform at their peak.

However, the season wasn’t without its hurdles. The roster, initially boasting 80 players, saw significant reductions over the months. Captain Angela Ye (12) noted that while these initial cuts hindered the team’s spirit, the adversity ultimately improved the resolve of players.

“We didn’t quit ourselves . . . we kept showing up, kept running,” Ye said. That perseverance was tested after the only loss of the season, a 9-8 defeat against American High School. Player Zackary Tsui (11) recalled the team-wide efforts made following the loss, leading to the subsequent Irvington 10-7 victory in their next matchup.

“We definitely learned to be more mature and to help each other out,” Tsui noted, emphasizing how teammates opted to sub in for one another whenever potential roadblocks formed, such as players’ inability to attend practices.

For many, Irvington Badminton represents an escape from the high-pressure environment of club badminton. “[Irvington Badminton] is really different from club badminton. Representing Irvington, playing in school tournaments, being with school friends, and hanging out with all grades, it’s just all so different from what I usually encounter with badminton. It’s amazing,” Ye reflected. “We have a lot of national players, and our team is strong no matter what. As captain, leading means making sure that all my teammates know that the most important thing is supporting your team and having fun with the match.”

Ultimately, the strength of the team is not simply what’s found in a trophy case, but in the determination of its players. Closing the season, Coach Strout emphasized that upholding an internal standard is what matters most. “Stay hard and do the best you can. If you can look in the mirror and be honest with yourself, that if you gave your all, then you did fine.”