Calhoun repeats as badminton champs

The Calhoun girls’ badminton team added another Nassau County Class AA title to its impressive collection—the program’s ninth in the last 13 seasons and second straight—knocking off No. 2 Great Neck, 4-3, in the championship round on May 19.

The Lady Colts (14-1 overall) dropped their first match of the season then ripped off a 14-game winning streak with only one team even winning more than two games before the County finals. “We had 10 new starters out of 11,” second-year coach Dan Bowker said. “But the expectation is that year in and year out working hard can [lead to an opportunity] to win a County championship. The girls really believe in each other and are just waiting for their opportunity.”

Senior Claire Murphy, the only returning starter in the entire top 11 and a former doubles player, finished up her 11-4 All-County campaign with a straight set win to clinch the team’s title. “The way the lineup is done, the [No. 1 singles] is always looked at in a special way,” Bowker said. “You always play the best a team has to offer. She was always doubles, never singles but really turned herself into one of the best.

“It’s a different technique and a different skill set and strategy. Instead of covering half the court you’re covering the full court and you’re hitting every shot. She embraced it whole-heartedly.”

What set Calhoun apart from every other program in Nassau County was its play in the four doubles pairings that combined to win 53 of 58 total matches with the No. 3 and No. 4 groups both finishing undefeated. With their unbeaten mark—and potentially the County title—on the line against Great Neck South, the No. 4 doubles team of juniors Jessica Helbock and Briana MacLaren battled back from a four-point hole at match point (20-16) in the third and final set to squeak by in a 25-23 thriller.

Senior Jessica Marrapodi and junior Muriel Bingham finished 14-0 with a straight set win over the Lady Rebels’ No. 3 pairing, while the second doubles team of junior All County honorees Sanjida Chowdhury and Cara Augugliaro (14-1 overall) breezed to a straight set win in the finals. The first singles pairing of senior Nicoletta Freese and junior Phoebe Ma earned All-Conference honors with a 10-4 mark.

“What made Calhoun such a special team was our depth,” Bowker said.