HAY RIVER
Badminton players from the Deh Cho won a number of medals during the recent Scott McAdam Badminton Championships.

William Alger was one of eight students from Thomas Simpson School in Fort Simpson who competed in the Scott McAdam Badminton Championships in Hay River from Dec. 6 to 7. - photo courtesy of Martha Drake

Athletes from Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, Thomas Simpson School in Fort Simpson and Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte travelled to Hay River to compete in the tournament between Dec. 6 to 7. Christina Bonnetrouge and Spencer Bonnetrouge from Fort Providence were the most successful competitors from the Deh Cho.

Christina won first in the ladies singles for the 1998-99 age group. She and her partner Delaney Vandell also came in first in the ladies doubles in the same age group.

Together Christina and Spencer came in first in the mixed doubles in the 1995-97 age group. Spencer also came in second in the men's singles in that age group.

He got a second silver medal when partnered with an athlete from Yellowknife in the men's doubles.

The other members of the Fort Providence team included Nathaniel Minoza, who had never competed in a badminton tournament before, Nolan Bonnetrouge and coach Jeremy Kielstra, who came in first in the open men's singles.

Lisa Muyambo of Fort Simpson also won three medals at the tournament.

Muyambo won first place in the mixed doubles with a Hay River partner, after they won all of their sets in the 1998-99 age group. In the singles, Muyambo came in second behind Christina.

Muyambo had gone undefeated until the final game, having beat Christina once in the round robin. In the finals, however, Muyambo lost both sets. Christina was definitely the toughest competition, she said.

"Fort Providence is very serious about badminton," said Muyambo.

"I wish I got first in singles, but I will try harder next time."

Muyambo and partner Mary Drake won third in the doubles in an older age group. The team won against their teammates Alisha Grossetete and Hailey Moses, but lost to both of the Hay River teams.

"It was fun," she said about the tournament.

Tiffany Larter brought a medal home to Fort Simpson winning second in the mixed doubles in her age group.

Josh Bertrand also competed in the tournament. There was some tough competition, he said. Out of the eight games Bertrand played in singles, doubles and mixed doubles he won two.

The other members of the Thomas Simpson School team included Ivor Cli-Norwegian and William Alger. The badminton team practised twice a week, two hours at a time, throughout November to prepare for the tournament.

"The kids did try hard and played hard," said coach John Forbes.

Many of the players were nervous for their first few games, but overcame that and made some good rallies even in the games where they weren't ultimately successful, he said.

Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte also sent athletes to the tournament.

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