Corona del Sol Badminton: Strong relationships on and off the court

Aztecs Badminton Group 2021-22 (Photograph Credit history: Aztecs Badminton)

Alex Suarez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism pupil assigned to deal with Corona del Sol for AZPreps365.com 

The Corona del Sol Aztecs, seventh ranked crew in Division I are rolling into State guiding a seven match profitable streak. But the bond shared among these women is an unbreakable just one. 

Up until finally last time, the Aztecs were region champions 3 decades in a row. Their target this 12 months was to gain the area all over again and their endeavours had been effective with a match earn on Monday against Queen Creek to finish the time. 

Aztecs head coach Katie Felicetti spoke about the great importance of their preseason matches and how it helped the team improve all through the rest of the time. 

“We played in a tournament early on in the year and we completed second powering Chaparral, coming down to the past match we misplaced by two details,” Felicetti mentioned. “We confronted a few tough competition in a row and I feel we just wanted it, we collectively labored difficult and wanted to get back again and win region.”

The Aztecs will have junior Merilyn Li and junior Allie Pequeno collaborating in the singles bracket commencing on Friday Oct. 21. Although seniors Megan Kirchhardt and Kayla McDonald will be collaborating in the doubles bracket of the state tournament. The Aztecs will then host No. 10 rated Pinnacle at house on Monday Oct. 25 in the Division I Staff Championship. 

Head mentor Katie Felicetti was complimentary to the seniors on the team and what they mean to the method. 

“They’ve been good leaders, being captains, jogging drills with the ladies, incredibly vocal and displaying great management,” Felicetti stated. 

These ladies have created a strong crew and have a solid camaraderie to go along with it. With 23 women on the staff this yr, the most taken by Felicetti, the group has grown as a entire and is obtaining enjoyment on and off the court docket. 

“Even though sometimes it was a problem, we all reviewed we would relatively have 23 and seriously be a workforce collective unit,” Felicetti explained. 

Kayla McDonald spoke about the solid interactions her and the other women have on and off the court docket. 

“I believe a big section of that is just building tactics enjoyable, we all chuckle and joke all over a great deal,” McDonald explained. “We do a fantastic total of unofficial crew bonding. A big team of us all went to Homecoming with each other. We are all just pals on and off the court.”

McDonald believes that the crew was equipped to rally on very last year’s period and deliver what they have figured out since then and implement that into this period and aid them accomplish their targets of successful the location at the time all over again. 

“It was magnificent — final 12 months was these a creating calendar year, it shows that our work last yr has paid off,” McDonald said. “We only had 11 girls very last yr and this 12 months we experienced 23, it is actually great to demonstrate that our difficult work paid off.”

Kirchhardt is excited about the opportunity to conclude her season participating in the Point out Doubles Championship together with her friend and teammate in McDonald as effectively as with the team starting off on Oct. 25. 

“Us remaining seniors, it is a definitely major deal. It implies a good deal to me. It truly is actually cool that this 12 months we get to have state, it implies a ton,” Kirchhardt mentioned. 

For Kirchhardt and McDonald, the two have been teammates for a extensive time now and have ongoing to increase that bond concerning them selves and the group. 

“We have played basketball with every other since sixth quality, we have normally performed together and we’re usually hanging out with every person else exterior of faculty,” Kirchhardt explained. 

Kirchhardt hopes the group can take away and study from all the factors the workforce has uncovered as a group and have that into long term results. 

“You do nonetheless have to function tricky and be aggressive, the conditioning and other things mentor helps make us do is all really worth it in the conclusion,” claimed Kirchhardt. 

Pequeno has experienced her enjoy for the sport expand from the interactions constructed with this badminton crew. 

“With badminton anyone definitely likes each and every other,” Pequeno reported. “It is these a relaxed and helpful natural environment that provides us in to perform extra and make additional friendships and have a fantastic time actively playing overall.” 

The seniors have played an crucial part in the eyes of Pequeno and she looks ahead to developing on that and leaving that exact impression for other folks. 

“I’ve usually looked up to the seniors, they’ve been astounding position designs and gamers to play from and I’m obviously unfortunate to see them leave immediately after the school year due to the fact they are my close pals,” Pequeno claimed. “I want to make positive I can be the senior future year that they were to me, building a kind surroundings where by absolutely everyone spends time jointly.” 

The girls have constructed a good camaraderie this season on and off the court docket and have used that bond and carried it on to the court docket every single and everyday. They will all don’t forget this team and cherish these times for several years to come.