New champions will emerge in badminton singles, doubles

October 23, 2014 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


New champions in singles and doubles will be crowned this season as badminton's individual postseason begins Thursday (Oct. 23) and concludes Saturday (Oct. 25) at Independence High School in Glendale.

Two rounds of six to be played take place Thursday beginning at 2:30 p.m. The final four rounds are Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. and continuing through early afternoon.

Here are the top eight seeds for singles and doubles:

SINGLES

1. Karen Guo, Desert Vista. 2. Drishti Panse, Hamilton. 3. Samantha Berg, Red Mountain. 4. Areta Buness, Xavier. 5. Jacqueline Kuo, Ironwood. 6. Amanda Dunn, Horizon. 7. Jenna Reynolds, Perry. 8. Denise Nieves, Skyline.

DOUBLES

1. Elle Millon-Ashley Huynh, Hamilton. 2. Hayden Jones-Aitzya Alvarez, Westwood. 3. Katha Patel-Valerie Rozon, Mtn. Ridge. 4. Laike Reader-Lauren Kater, Perry. 5. Tara Garretson-Kristin McCann, Mtn. Pointe. 6. Alexis Mee-Qindeel Kanwar, Chandler. 7. Jamilia Cosay-Samantha Evans, Sandra Day O'Connor. 8. Teal Weaver-Mallory Belknap, Xavier.

Team championship play begins Monday (Oct. 27) at the sites of the top four seeds. First-round matches start at 5 p.m. and second round (quarterfinals) follow at approimately 6:30 p.m. Semifinals are Wednesday (Oct. 29) at 6:30 p.m. and championship is Thursday (Oct. 30) at 6:30. The semis and final are at Xavier Prep.

SINGLES NOTES: Hamilton's Drishti Panse was part of last year's doubles-title team with Tiffany Pariva. Xavier's Areta Buness finished fourth in singles and defeated Desert Vista's Karen Guo and Ironwood's Jacqueline Kup on the way to that finish. Horizon's Amanda Dunn was eliminated in the quarters last year. DOUBLES NOTES: Mountain Ridge's Valerie Rozon finished fourth in doubles last year with then teammate Rachel Price. Sandra Day O'Connor's Jamilia Cosay and Samantha Evans advanced to the quarterfinals last year. Xavier's Mallory Belknap, Red Mountain's Samantha Berg, Perry's Jenna Reynolds, Chandler's Alexis Mee and Westwood's Hayden Jones-Aitzya Alvarez were eliminated in the round of 16 last year.