Badminton Seeks To Repeat State Title Success

Success is a privilege many teams enjoy, and being able to achieve it twice in a row is almost impossible, but not for the Fresno City College badminton team.

The Fresno City College Badminton team ended their 2016 season with a perfect 10-0 record, earning a Coast Conference championship, as well as capping off their season with a 11-10 win over Pasadena City College in the state finals for their second California State championship in program history.

The Rams are scheduled to start their season on March 16 when they go on the road to face San Francisco City College.

The Rams are heading into the season as the defending state champions and carry a lot of weight on their shoulders as they try to repeat last season’s success with only two athletes from their championship roster. But they are determined to make this season just as successful as the last.

Leading the charge for the Rams is head coach Carol Kadingo, who has an optimistic outlook on the season. Her team has yet to play a preseason scrimmage match, but she remains confident and looks forward to see how her athletes, especially her freshmen, would perform.

“We are hopeful about this season, expecting a lot from our players both new and old,” Kadingo said. “I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on our players. We do want to succeed, but we don’t want that to be the only reason why we we succeed.”.

Returning athletes know what is expected of them and what it takes to repeat last season’s success. Rams’ sophomore Panhia Vang said she is ready to head into this season to use what she had done last season as a source of inspiration to get her through the tough matches ahead.

“There is a little pressure on us to repeat last season’s title run, but I am looking forward to the challenge of wanting to play and get that championship again,” Panhia Vang said. “I know what we need to do in order to win; to be able to play your game effectively to get the upperhand on your opponents.”

For freshmen athletes, joining a championship team can be daunting — learning a new system while performing on the high level that the the badminton program is accustomed to. Freshman athlete Amy Vang knows what her team achieved a season ago and is open to the challenge.

“I am excited to be a part of this team. We have been working really hard to get us ready for the season and I think we will do very well,” said Amy Vang. “We are looking forward to having a great season and possibly winning a state championship this year.”