Even more important than defending a provincial badminton championship is securing a life-long friendship.
Connor Johanson won a gold medal at the Alberta Schools’ Athletics Association provincial championship in Junior boys single in 2018, but this year he has opted to play doubles with his friend James Lindsay in Senior doubles.
“I have played with Jamie for a while and I just decided because he’s graduating it would be fun to play in provincials with him,” Johanson said.
“So far it’s been lots of fun.”
Johanson and Lindsay will have plenty of friends with them. The Eagles are sending 14 players to the ASAA championships after winning eight titles at the South Central zones in Strathmore earlier this month.
Edison has won eight consecutive Tier I team banners at provincials, and nine of the last 10.
Johanson’s decision to forego a shot at another individual gold was helped by the fact his pal is awfully darn good.
Lindsay teamed up with Adrianna Stog — who has since graduated — to win the gold medal in Intermediate mixed doubles last year.
“Connor and I have played together for something like 11 years,” Lindsay said. “We understand each other –we get how the other person plays.
{When one person goes up, the other person automatically knows how to go back.
“We read each other’s minds pretty well.”
The friends got a bit of a scare at the South Central zones in Strathmore earlier this month. They lost a one-game set to Brooks 24-22 in the round robin.
They rebounded to beat Brooks in three games in the finals.
He said the loss would help them as they prepare for provincials.
“It changed our mindset, we kind of walked into it thinking we were going to ace the whole thing,” Lindsay said.
Also returning to
provincials for the Eagles are Taylor Burton of Okotoks and Chloe Crump in Intermediate girls doubles. They won the Junior title last year.
“I am a little nervous to be honest because provincials is a lot different than zones,” Burton said. “The fact getting gold last year and the pressure to bring home the banner makes it harder.”
But it’s good pressure. Burton is glad to be part of a dynasty.
The pair didn’t lose any games at zones, the most points they gave up is 11.
“Right now we are feeling pretty confident,” Crump said. “We have a good mix of skills and we can help each other weaknesses. We also have
different personalities, on the court we become the perfect badminton personality.”
Burton described herself as competitive and aggressive while Crump is the mellow-type.
“She makes me more aggressive and I make her less aggressive,” Crump said with a laugh.
Their goal is the same — win.
“We want to have fun, but we are both are hoping to bring home another win,” Crump said.
Edison Eagle Alister Salmon is making his third trip to provincials and he think he has a chance to win his first medal as he competes in Senior boys singles.
He said he played well at zones and divisionals, boosting his confidence.
“I aiming for top four – improvement from last year,” Salmon said. “I feel that if I play my very best, I think I can win a medal.”
He credits his fitness and his long reach for his success.
Making her first trip to provincials is Taela Cramphorn who won gold in Senior girls singles at zones.
“I have never really trained before I had never been to provincials before and I heard everybody talk about it and this year, I really wanted to try,” the Grade 12 Cramphorn said. “I’ve been going to a lot of club practices and I have had private lessons.”
The 14 athletes going to provincials ties the most Edison has sent to the championships.
“We have chances to win medals, but provincials are hard,” said Edison coach Billy Gilliland. “I think we have a good chance to win another [team banner].”
The provincial high school badminton championships are May 3-4 at Nelson Mandela, Bishop McNally high schools and ClearOne Badminton Centre. The 14 Edison Eagles going to provincials – who all won gold at Strathmore are — Senior: Boys single, Alister Salmon; Girls singles, Taela Cramphorn; Boys doubles, James Lindsay / Connor Johanson. Intermediate — Girls doubles, Chloe Crump/ Taylor Burton. Boys doubles, Ty Stride/ Adrian Li. Junior — Boys singles, Trent Lee; Girls singles, Hyland; Girls doubles, Makera Cramphorn/ Alyssa Oliphant; Boys doubles, Matthew Mettam/ Mikhail Fonin.
