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I WMthuiCHlONlCLE-Wedneuiay. Ma» 1. .‘m i- 23 f F] I O I O S fl 0 , O O WCI mo, SIAM s Wei 017' to OPSAA badminton championships Br loan“ Elm Chroniclefl ’ On a whim. Karen Wildgen decided it Mt be fun to play badminton. ’; it was an odd choice two years ago 3 because the then-Grade 10 Waterloo Colle- ; glau- Institute student had played soccer I and volleyball ' Racquet sports? it was not really her \ thing. ’ 'ltrledtennis but it didn‘t ‘t rkfo i . qur e we r 7 me.” said Wildgen. now a ”year-old Grade 12 student atWCl. _ 3 . ( But badminton. despite the tricky foot- 7 ’ work and technique. was a smash. “I think the athletic background helps out ..-. ; a bit." Wildgen said. “And it's a good lifelong ;» .. ‘ sport it‘s something i could see myself play- ‘ ingasan adult.” 3;; f . . Still. Wildgen is doing pretty well for her- $11.35ng .6? self as a high school student-athlete. Last . _.. ' ' t i month. she teamed up with former doubles 3 :3; 3 ‘ finalist Caroline Wong as both players cap- .‘«' fig - 7“ 4‘; ruled their first CWOSSA senior girls title. .' .3? ‘ r :‘ ; That means the pair will be in the run- rigsâ€"31.” ; , 2 ning for a title this week at the OFSAA bad- V 1:}? .5; v.‘ a ,3: -:r minton championships in Pain Court and ”,3 » e” ‘ ’ ‘3‘% M; .11: Jay 5 £3": Chadiam. 5g: .\ . g3 ; ' » ‘3. « ' And they won't be alone. Joining Wildgen ,1 $1“ 3 1*» .- 1 . ;_ 1."; .; . . - and Wong from WC] is Grace Xu, a Grade 10 ‘ ‘5‘} 4%.; _ -.." {a 3‘4; "'ist student~athlete who won the CWOSSA sen- Y :3 :3»;3;.'T"r?+j 273. $33 ior girls singles title April 18 at Conestoga ”g; . ' i; "-" " ‘ .1. .4 3,5, _ figegmnvfifaizegrfighgdhSeégrrjafffie Waterloo Collegiate's Karen Midgen, from left. Grace Xu and Caroline Wong are off to the OFSAA badminton cha‘ ' Thursday in Pain senior boys singles bracket. also earned 3 CW" and Graham. mm" mm spot in the provincial high school champi» onships familiar with. Likewise for her Grade 10 going to be totally different from club where ing players â€"- the ones who Wong recog- Overall. the Vikings also captured their teammate. Xu, who like Wildgen and Wong we know who everyone is and how they nizesâ€"coming back with newparrners. second straight CWOSSA senior team cham~ is a member of the K-W Badminton Club. play." From there. they plan to lean on Wild» . pionship and their third straight junior title last year, Wong and former partner Unda However. Xu, who uses strong technique. gens athleticism. Wong’s strategic mind and last month at Conestoga College. Lu made it to the OFSM B Flight quarterfi- footwork and a keen eye in practice to target strong chemistry. The two have been friends in the junior divisions. Trevor Ramon and nals before being knocked out by one of the opponents' possible weaknesses. still has it since Grade 9. live in the same neighbour- George Wu topped the boys doubles divi» two finalist teams. Meanwhile. Xu can lean goal in mind this week. hood and carpool to practices. sion; George Chen (boys singles) and the on some experience at home â€" her brother. ”Hopefully to make it past the first few "Caroline's really good at assessing oppoâ€" team of Olivia Bender and Emily Kim (girls Xingnan. also made it to OFSAA and plays games and maybe into the semifinals." she nents." W'Ildgen said. "She can spot another doubles) placed second; Kewel Zhang and competitively at McMaster University. said. player's weaknesses and she'll be able to tell Chris Wong (boys doubles) were third; and Still. despite being seeded third overall in Mldgen’s objective is a bit more modest. me.” i Gilbert Nghiem and Kaylee Anagnostopou- the girls singles division. Xu does not know 'i want an OFSM sweater. just so i can “And when we want to win. we know how 105 (mixed doubles) were third. what to expect when the competition begins show it off.“ she said with a laugh. to turn it on.” Wong said. “We can slow For Wildgen. this will be her first experi- on Thursday. In all seriousness. though. Wildgen and things down and figure out what is going ence at a provincial championship. an expe- “it's definitely going to be a big jump." Xu Wong plan to take their opponents one step wrong if we lose three points in a row. we'll ricnce her playing partner. Wong. is already said. “i recognize some of the names but its at a time. especially with some of the retum- ask each other where they're getting them." 7 its. 2:: . gift 1-49." 7..., . ‘ - a a ‘2. I , ;i‘a’llNi~BAG::i . r , _ A ~ 3"; I .4 , ”I ‘23??? a .~' -; ‘ l i , '5‘ 5‘» ,' , , y‘;,3_ “a. ,, ‘. . . y . . y. 3 ”w ~- - m; --.v.fi I WW ,A ‘, 3"”. “I?” _.“_ L;;_§_-_-_‘_L:_':‘;‘_'M I m . WI 9 it» at» ‘ _ . $21 at» “31“»de in); P “‘0 m amnion ' : ‘ "