JP II Grade 11 students Kaitlin Tarasoff (left), and Guiel Salunga (right), pictured here with their Provincial bronze medals. (submitted photo/Vic Stynsky)

By Martin Martinson

A standout performance

JPII duo earns provincial bronze in doubles badminton

May 15, 2019 | 4:55 PM

For Grade 11 students Guiel Salunga and Kaitlin Tarasoff, badminton has been a passion and a craft the pair have enjoyed since Grade 8 at John Paul II Collegiate. Now with a provincial bronze medal to their credit in doubles badminton, it is a pastime that gave the two memories to last a lifetime.

First getting involved in the sport three years ago, the pair waited until Grade 10 to combine as a unit in doubles badminton, making it to provincials in their first year together, last season.

While the tandem may not have medaled last year, the experience of witnessing Saskatchewan’s best players at the high school level was one that both parties credit their success this time around.

“It helped a lot,” Tarasoff said of the experience. “We knew we had to step up our game, and our hard work really paid off.”

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“It was exciting,” Salunga added. “I mean you don’t just get a provincial medal [every day], it was really fun.”

District champions in the Battle West athletic division, Tarasoff and Salunga’s trek to the podium in Swift Current came following a dominating regular season showing. The duo tore out of the gates and seemingly didn’t look back, winning five gold medals in five tournaments played over the regular season.

In the playoffs, the pair continued their torrent pace, finishing second at regionals, before then placing second in their pool at provincials as well.

In the cross-over semifinal, they played a team from Nipawin, that would go on to win the gold medal, and while the girls were defeated 21-16 in the final game, the pair still managed to push the best-of-three showdown to a deciding third-game.

For badminton coach Vic Stynsky, the pair’s success this season was a certainly a pleasant sight, but not much of a surprise, as he expected big things from the duo this season, following what they showed last year.

“Last year they also played very well and they were strong in all their tournaments, [but] they just needed to get a little more experience at the higher level,” Stynsky said. “Last season was kind an opportunity where they were happy to be [at provincials], but this year they knew they were in the right spot, that they should be there, and they wanted to win a medal, which they did.”

Both Salunga and Tarasoff have still one year remaining in their high school careers. Despite the season having only just concluded, the pair were quick to say they are already looking forward to next year as they will once again aim to represent their school against the best in the province with a podium finish.

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1