Recently, Park has added a new extracurricular to its list: the badminton club. Badminton club meets after school for practices and informal matches with each other, and participation is open to anyone regardless of experience level. So far, the club has given students a fresh way to compete, connect and try something different.
According to Coach Emily Rennhak, the idea to start a badminton club grew out of noticeable student interest and support from the staff. She said physical education teachers first saw how many students enjoyed badminton and wanted a way to keep playing outside of class.
“The athletics office reached out for a coach because there was a lot of student interest,” Rennhak said. “The gym teachers were some of the first to recognize it, just from seeing how many students enjoyed playing and how accessible the sport is. I was interested because I’m not a particularly sporty person, and I wanted to be part of something that allows people to get involved, even if they don’t usually see themselves as athletes.”
Sophomore Rilen Klingenberg Krizik said she was drawn to the club for both the sport itself and the sense of community it offered. She said the environment has made it easy to connect with others and feel comfortable.
“I wanted to join badminton because I was looking for a sport with other girls and a sense of unity,” Klingenberg Krizik said. “I’ve always liked playing badminton. There’s a big sense of friendship here, and I feel like I can have fun and be myself.”
According to Sophomore Khaylin Turner, the club has helped her build skills that apply to other sports she plays. She said the fast pace of badminton has improved her reaction time and overall athletic ability.
“I like badminton and would recommend (joining) because it really helps with agility and quick reactions,” Turner said. “Those skills transfer to other sports too, like volleyball, which I play more, but badminton has helped me improve overall as an athlete.”
Rennhak said the team is still developing but has already shown growth in key areas. She said players are improving their quickness while also learning how to compete together as a team.
“I’m seeing a lot of growth in the game, especially in speed and agility,” Rennhak said. “We’re still in the early stages of building as a team, but we are hoping to be competitive in our conference next year. Right now, we’re focused on developing those skills and learning how to work together. It’s just been great to see so many ninth graders get involved and find their place in the high school.”
According to Turner, playing doubles in the club has helped her build trust and connection with teammates while also improving her skills. She said she’s noticed progress in her speed, shot-making and ability to read opponents during play.
“So far, what I really like about the club is how bonding it is. Because we play doubles, you’re on the court with someone else, and you start to get really close with them,” Turner said. “You begin to trust them and they trust you too, which is cool. I started at level basically zero, but I’ve already noticed I can do smashes, I’m quicker on my feet and I can read what other players are going to do, like whether they’re going to go up or drop the shot.”
According to Klingenberg Krizik, she joined badminton with personal improvement in mind and is using the sport to set clear goals for herself. She said it gives her something to work toward while she continues to deepen her skills in this new sport.
“I’ve liked having goals to work towards in badminton, like getting faster, consistent and overall getting better at this sport since it’s relatively new,” Klingenberg Krizik said. “It helps me stay motivated during practice because I can see myself improving over time, and I’m hoping to continue to get better, especially as we start getting into matches and everything.”
