Clarke badminton on the rise

Clarke’s steadily climbed the ladder on the badminton court, improving from three wins in 2013 to eight wins last season and then 13 straight victories to open the 2015 campaign. The Lady Rams needed just one victory to not only finish unbeaten, but capture the program’s first conference title since 2004 when they squared off with East Rockaway on May 6.

The Lady Rocks fought off Clarke, the only team to beat them during the regular season, for a 4-3 win and earned the crown on the third tiebreaker (total head-to-head sets after overall record and head-to-head were deadlocked a 1-1). In the regular season meeting, won by Clarke, 4-3 on April 23, the Lady Rams (13-1 overall) needed 10 sets to win. In the season-finale rematch, East Rockaway won in eight games.

“It feels good to have such a big season,” senior Rian Leung said. “My first year on the team we had three wins, then last year we jumped up to eight wins. We brought back a bunch of girls from last year so we were hoping to do better.”

“I’m not sure if it was a matter of clicking or just desire,” coach Leslie Murray said. “We were on a roll. It was a fun year to coach them.”

Leading the way for the Lady Rams was senior Pinar Siper, the No. 1 singles player, who closed out her career with a 12-2 mark, including a second win over the Lady Rocks No. 1, Patricia Lim (21-18, 24-22).

In the first regular-season meeting between the teams, Siper turned in perhaps her best performance. Trailing 20-12 in the third and deciding game with Lim, Siper battled back to take the next 10 points and win the match, 2-1. “She’s so smart,” Murray said. “She figures out what the opponent’s weakness is. She will run players forward and backward and has an amazing dropshot. She’s calm and plays each point one hit at a time.”

“A lot of people view badminton as a sport you only play in gym,” Siper said. “But it takes a lot of effort. We practice really hard and the competition is tough.”

Senior Christina Mendoza missed time due to injury but still won six of her 11 matches as the No. 2 singles player, while junior Katya Weiss was 8-1 at No. 3 singles. “She has a very good drop shot and is quick and flexible,” Murray said of Weiss.

Much of Clarke’s success was driven by its four doubles pairings, as all eight players earned All-Conference honors. The No. 1 pairing of senior Binita Shah and Hannah Zirkel was a perfect 12-0 together, including a straight set win (21-12, 24-22) over East Rockaway’s No. 1 pairing in the final battle of the season. And when it came to leadership, it was Shah who stood out. “She was the most vocal,” Murray said. “She played four years and was the one that pumped [everyone] up.”

Juniors Lyn Koh and Omoefe Eke piled up 11 wins together, while Leung and junior Stacie Thomas had a dozen. Sophomores Caitlin Eng and Besny Sebastian also made key contributions. “We really dominated the doubles,” Murray said. “They were the key.”