BY GARY LEE
STAFF WRITER
Darren Tan (12)
What is your responsibility as a varsity captain of badminton?
“My responsibility as a captain of the team is to make sure that everyone on the team is training and working to the best of their abilities and to have fun while doing so.”
What is some advice you would give to the newcomers?
“Form and footwork are all important, but the most important thing is to make friends and have fun with your teammates.”
What made you want to join badminton?
“My parents both play badminton and growing up they always took me along to play with them.”
What is your favorite beverage?
“Water, I just prefer drinking water as it is [healthier than drinks].”
Squid or octopus?
“The only squid I like is takoyaki, it tastes good to me plus it is Japanese.”
Serena Zheng (12)
How do you feel about the team this year?
“Unlike previous years, it was harder to get into the team as there were a lot more participants this year. In practice, we saw that everyone on the team this year was really into it and they were here because they want to play and to get better.”
What is one of your favorite memories in badminton?
“Definitely some of the intense games we had with other schools in the past because during the games everyone would be so positive, cheerful, they would always seem to be so into the game.”
What made you stay in badminton?
“I did not really like playing when I was younger, but at the beginning of high school, I realized how much [being in] the team meant to me. We built this family relationship where everyone is just so nice to each other and [support one another].”
What is your favorite food?
“Anything really, I do not have a favorite food specifically.”
Syrup or honey?
“Honey. I have always been a honey person, syrup to me is just way too sweet.”
Sophia Zheng (11)
What is one thing you want to change about the badminton team?
“One thing I want to change right now is a closer bond between junior varsity and varsity.”
How do you balance badminton with your academics?
“You have to have two mindsets. In one, you have to focus more on your grade and the education itself, but in your sports mindset, you focus on where you want to be at, physically and mentally, and how you are going to play to win.”
How would you help the newcomers of the badminton team?
“[In practices] we would watch them, take note of their movement and what techniques they would use. Since we have the experience of playing badminton we see what they are doing wrong and correct them.”
If you had one superpower, what would it be?
“To run really fast, no particular reason I just want to be really fast.”
What is your favorite way to eat an egg?
“I like to boil them because boiled eggs taste good with ramen.”
Jeffery Tan (12)
What did you envision when you first joined the team?
“A group of people who would have fun to enjoy badminton.”
How would you feel if badminton was discontinued?
“I would feel sad because I enjoy badminton and that is why I joined [the badminton team].”
What is badminton to you as a student?
“A sport that I enjoy playing with my friends.”
If you can travel back in time, when and why?
“I would not really care because I do not really have anything that I would travel back in time for.”
What would you do with a billion dollars?
“Give them to friends and family, have fun and buy food.”
Joanne Chen (11)
What is your favorite part about being in badminton?
“I enjoy the physical aspects in playing badminton, the swings, the running, it is all about the dynamic stuff.”
What do you strive for in badminton this year?
“I really want to improve my technique gameplay-wise this year.”
How does badminton affect your daily life?
“Since practice usually takes the whole afternoon, it kind of pushes my homework schedule back.”
If you can change one thing at school what would it be?
“I believe there should be unlimited snacks during the nutrition break because everyone likes food.”
What is your favorite genre of music?
“Lo-Fi pop and hip-hop because the music is chill and calming. I usually listen to them when I am doing my homework.”
