100 students swinging for the win at annual ETSB badminton tournament
Roughly 100 Grade 5 and 6 students from eight local schools met at Alexander Galt yesterday to face off in the annual ETSB badminton tournament.
According to Ayer’s Cliff Elementary Physical Education teacher Stephanie Fournier, the event is a great opportunity for the students to meet their future peers and classmates.
This year, the participating schools were North Hatley Elementary, Sherbrooke Elementary, Sunnyside, Pope Memorial, Cookshire, St. Francis, Ayer’s Cliff Elementary and Sawyerville Elementary.
“It’s a big tournament,” Fournier said, and involves long hours of preparation for the participating schools and support from parents.
About a month before the tournament, the students interested in competing in the tournament sign up and start practicing.
The tournament was double elimination and included singles and doubles divisions for boys and girls.
The tournament was mostly for Grade 6, but Fournier said there were a few Grade 5 students keen to get involved as well.
Before beginning the matches, the students were given a refresher on the rules of the game and a few cues for good sportsmanship.
According to Fournier, badminton is a great sport for students who want to be active but aren’t necessarily interested in team sports.