Trinity Clark
Editor-In-Chief
“The girls were on; they were ready to go…I think they were so fired up for that game it took less time for us to play the game than it took to get there.” Coach Stafford of Ironwood’s State Champion Badminton team stated that the girls’ competition against Camp Verde High School went by in a flash thanks to the players’ thrilling games.
Ironwood’s Girls’ Badminton team for state had an amazing line up. Tony DeMarco, Kelly Grady, Savannah Hendrix, Xandra Rhodes, Diana Batrez-Ramirez, and Juliana Traylor-Rowen all performed impressively during their matches. Coach Stafford is extremely proud of these young ladies. This was also a special game for Coach Stafford as it is the first time his one of his teams has won a State competition.
For those who could not attend, the games progression went like this- all six singles games were going at once. All six of the first rounds went Ironwood. According to Coach Stafford, it was apparent by this point that Camp Verde’s chances of winning were grim, but each team still gave it their all. Savannah Hendrix won her second round first and then Juliana Traylor-Rowen and Tony DeMarco followed in suit, putting Ironwood ahead by three games. Once Xandra Rhodes and Diana Batrez-Ramirez had won their games it was 5-0, with the only game still playing being Kelly Grady’s. Camp Verde High School certainly came to win, but Ironwood took home the gold.
As Coach Stafford explained in an interview, last year all spring sports were canceled and since then there has been a push for all Ironwood’s teams to do their best while they can still play. The Girls’ Badmniton teaming winning at State is a morale booster for all of Ironwood and is a positive within the negative atmosphere created by COVID-19.
Congratulations to the Girls’ Badminton team for playing a safe season and successfully taking the State title!
Image Credit: Coach Stafford
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