2008 Woodie Awards
Finished: Badminton team loss leaves three tied for SCC championship; won't advance on to playoffs
By: Fumie Iida
Issue date: 5/6/04 Section: Sports
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Against an experienced East L.A. team, Tomoe Okaguchi felt the pressure last Friday.
Ranked as the team's No. 1 player, playing in the Warriors' final game of the season with the playoffs hanging in the balance, Okaguchi knew each point was important, each stroke could determine the match and that a misplaced volley could end the season.
With the weight of the playoffs on her shoulders, Okaguchi and an inexperienced badminton team could not hold together, settling for first place, but with no hope of advancing to the playoffs.
In a season in which almost their entire roster was composed of new players, the Warriors were able to improve steadily, gaining experience and technical skills throughout the season. And at season's end, they walked away with the title of co-champion with Pasadena City and East L.A, but with no ticket to the playoffs.
After all the conference matches, EC, Pasadena City and East L.A. ended up with the same overall game record, 42-42, but because Pasadena City had three more set points than EC, Pasadena City went on to the Southern California Team Playoffs and faced Irvine Valley yesterday.
"I tried very hard to win the game because I didn't want to hurt the team's record," Okaguchi said. "But the pressure was too much for me."
The women will play as individuals at the South Coast Conference (SCC) Tournament tomorrow at the Manhattan Beach Badminton Club at 9 a.m.
"Individually, players got better," coach John Britton said. "They got more experience and more comfortable with their ability."
The Warriors beat L.A. City last Wednesday, 19-2 and lost to East L.A., 13-8, last Friday.
"It was not lack of ability, but a lack of playing personnel that cost us the East L.A. game," Britton said.
The Warriors were without No.2 Arielle Lombardi and No.3 Rebekah Wanic from the middle of the season on.
"Lombardi's injuries were more serious than we thought," Britton said. "Missing some players really hurt the team, thereby dictating the results of the last three games."
Ranked as the team's No. 1 player, playing in the Warriors' final game of the season with the playoffs hanging in the balance, Okaguchi knew each point was important, each stroke could determine the match and that a misplaced volley could end the season.
With the weight of the playoffs on her shoulders, Okaguchi and an inexperienced badminton team could not hold together, settling for first place, but with no hope of advancing to the playoffs.
In a season in which almost their entire roster was composed of new players, the Warriors were able to improve steadily, gaining experience and technical skills throughout the season. And at season's end, they walked away with the title of co-champion with Pasadena City and East L.A, but with no ticket to the playoffs.
After all the conference matches, EC, Pasadena City and East L.A. ended up with the same overall game record, 42-42, but because Pasadena City had three more set points than EC, Pasadena City went on to the Southern California Team Playoffs and faced Irvine Valley yesterday.
"I tried very hard to win the game because I didn't want to hurt the team's record," Okaguchi said. "But the pressure was too much for me."
The women will play as individuals at the South Coast Conference (SCC) Tournament tomorrow at the Manhattan Beach Badminton Club at 9 a.m.
"Individually, players got better," coach John Britton said. "They got more experience and more comfortable with their ability."
The Warriors beat L.A. City last Wednesday, 19-2 and lost to East L.A., 13-8, last Friday.
"It was not lack of ability, but a lack of playing personnel that cost us the East L.A. game," Britton said.
The Warriors were without No.2 Arielle Lombardi and No.3 Rebekah Wanic from the middle of the season on.
"Lombardi's injuries were more serious than we thought," Britton said. "Missing some players really hurt the team, thereby dictating the results of the last three games."