Carlmont’s varsity coed badminton team kicked off their season with a 27-3 victory over the Menlo-Atherton Bears on March 6 in their season opener. Last season, the Scots won the Bay Divison Championship in the Peninsula Athletic League. The away game was a clear demonstration of the Scots’ intent to continue their success from last year and reclaim the league title.
The Scots started strong, winning the boys singles bracket with only one game between M-A’s Nate Fowler and Carlmont’s Jackson Moa, going to a third match, in which Moa came out on top.
“We knew going into the game that M-A would be a strong opponent, but we were confident and well-prepared,” said Carlmont assistant coach Alexander Wang.
Despite the Bears’ efforts, they struggled to match Carlmont’s intensity and coordination. Keeping their spirits high, they were able to score two points in the second girls’ singles game between Viet-Tran Do and Ria Smilouitz, with Do taking the win.
“She won against Carmont, which is a very competitive team in girls singles. I’m super proud of her for that, and she exceeded all expectations,” said Addison Youngblood, a senior captain at M-A.
Carlmont’s success was evident, with their girls and boys doubles winning all six matches. The Scots’ ability to stay composed and focused under pressure was pivotal to their commanding win.
“It is an away game, so there’s not as much pressure to win, but we’re just going to try our hardest and have fun,” said Karena Ling, a sophomore at Carlmont.
For Menlo-Atherton, while the outcome wasn’t in their favor, the team remained resilient until the end, pulling out a last win in the final mixed doubles game. Jack Trevor and Amy Lam scored the final point for M-A against Daniel Lin and Aanya Bhatia.
Carlmont’s performance showed both individual talent and cohesive teamwork.
“Our team chemistry is strong this year. We all support each other, and it’s great to see us working together. It was a big factor in our win,” said Scots senior captain Madeline Cassidy.
Carlmont’s victory over M-A set a high standard for the rest of the season. As the season progresses, the Scots are aiming to maintain their momentum and build on this successful opener. With a clear focus on teamwork, strategy, and consistency, the Scots are positioning themselves as strong contenders for another league title.
“We’ve had a strong start, but our goal is to keep improving and work towards winning the league again. If we stay focused, I believe we can achieve it,“ Wang said.
