Whether the shuttlecock is soaring through the winter or spring air, Manhasset Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Badminton has officially cemented itself as a powerhouse of Nassau County. With the Boys’ Varsity season recently wrapping up and the Girls’ Varsity team gearing up to defend their throne, the energy on the courts is at an all-time high.
The Boys’ team concluded their fall season with a display of resilience that has become the hallmark of Manhasset athletics. “From a results perspective, the season was definitely a challenging one for us,” noted captain of the Boys Badminton team, Ben Yang. “Even so, I think what stood out most about this team was how everyone handled that adversity. The team kept showing up to practice, supporting each other, and staying positive even when the results weren’t going our way.”
As captain, Ben worked to maintain a sense of team spirit. “I made the posts and posters for our matches and updates throughout the season, which was a small way to keep everyone engaged and celebrate the moments we did have,” said Ben. “When we got those few wins, the whole team really rallied around them, and those moments meant a lot to us. That kind of resilience and camaraderie is something I’ll definitely remember from my time with the team.”
As the spring season approaches, all eyes are on the reigning “Court Queens.” The Girls’ team enters the year with a target on their backs, carrying the momentum of an undefeated streak that has left the rest of the conference scrambling for answers.
“As I prepare for my final season with the team, I wouldn’t trade this experience for any other group of girls,” said Abigail Chen, senior and Girls Badminton team captain. Abby is recognized as one of the top 20 players on Long Island, bringing a level of precision and power to the court that is rare at the high school level, losing only 2 games in her past seasons.
For Abby and the other girls on Girls Badminton, the team is like a family. “Coach Roberts celebrates our match scores with treats: during my sophomore year, I won a match 21–0, which we playfully called ‘donutting’ since the zero looks like a donut, so Coach Roberts treated the entire team to donuts,” recalled Abby. “Similarly, last year, senior Alexandra Bartul beat her opponent 21–1, so the team celebrated with McDonald’s french fries, since the ‘1’ looks like a fry. It is these small moments of community and friendship that motivate each team member to work harder, support one another, and keep striving for improvement.”
The season was a rollercoaster, with hard-fought 3–4 matches against both Port Washington and Great Neck North, as well as thrilling 7–0 and 6–1 wins against Wantagh, proving the girls remain competitive even against the county’s toughest teams.
The season would be defined as a rollercoaster, with thrilling 3-4 matches against Port Washington and Great Neck North as well as two thrilling 7-0 and 6-1 wins against Wantagh, proving the girls are remaining competitive even against the county’s toughest programs.
From Ben Yang’s final smashes in the fall to Abby Chen’s highly-anticipated serves in spring, the story of Manhasset Badminton is one of continuous growth. As the girls step off of the court, the message is clear: the season may change, but the standard of winning at Manhasset remains exactly the same.
