Perfect start for L.B. badminton

It’s impossible to call Long Beach’s debut in Nassau County girls badminton anything less than a smashing success. The first-year program finished its season undefeated (14-0) and swept its way to the Conference V title, and the Lady Marines only improved as the season unfolded. Over their last four matches, they shutout three opponents by a 7-0 margin and beat a fourth, 6-1.

“We expected to do well,” coach Adam Rossi said, noting the conference crown was a team goal from the start. “We knew we had athletes and girls that would learn [the sport]. They came to practice willing to work and with an open mind and willing to learn.”

All 11 members of Long Beach’s starting lineup, which consisted of three singles players and four doubles teams, earned All-Conference honors, and given the roster’s youth, the outlook remains bright even with a move up to Conference IV next season.

The Lady Marines No. 1 singles player, Brigitte Gilbert is only a sophomore, and she bounced back from a 1-3 start by winning her last 10 matches, all in the span of just six weeks. “She plays hoops and used to play tennis,” Rossi said. “She’s an athlete. She plays three sports and is like a sponge [regarding technique].”

Sophomore Sam Shreck posted a 9-5 mark at No. 2 singles, relying on a power smash that could sometimes be heard resonating throughout the gym. The only senior among the singles starters was team captain Jamie Prendergast, who turned in a perfect 14-0 mark during the regular season and was the team’s lone representative at the Nassau Individual championships. Though she lost a three-set decision, she impressed by falling one point shy of her opponent in the final set, who played in Conference III all season.

In doubles play, juniors Liz Kropp (9-4) and Brette Wayne (8-5) turned an off-field camaraderie into on-court success. Kropp handled most of the action on the back line, while Wayne’s finesse was a strength near the net. “They got off to a slow start but picked it up as the season went along,” Rossi said.

Junior Melissa Midoneck (11-2) and freshman Johanna Zavala (12-2) teamed up at second doubles and had quite an impact. Freshman Shannon Romig (11-2) and sophomore Heidi Abrego (11-3) were both taking up a racket sport for the first time but had a seamless transition to the game as the No. 3 tandem. But no pairing is likely to have had more fun on the court than senior co-captains Arielle Busch (13-1) and Brittany Dara (12-0). “They always had a smile every point of every game,” Rossi said, also noting how well Dara’s aggressive style meshed with Busch’s play at the net. “They knew the strategy and what they were doing.”