A pair of Grade 10 athletes from Carman Collegiate smashed their way to second place at the provincial high school badminton championships earlier this month.
Linden Findlay and Carson O’Connor placed second in junior varsity boys doubles at the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association (MHSAA) provincials, held May 3 and 4 at the Sport for Life Centre in Winnipeg.
The silver-medal finish capped off a dominant season for the duo, who remained undefeated in all matches leading up to provincials and claimed the Zone 4 championship banner for their school.
Findlay said they were “pumped” to take home the banner. He added they finished second last year and made it their goal to win this season.
Sixteen teams competed for the top spot, with Carman’s team falling in the final to a Grade 10 duo from Sisler High School.
This is the second year Findlay and O’Connor have played together, and their dedication showed — practicing and competing five days a week over the course of an 85-game season.
They both shared their excitement for competing, even though they fell short of first place.
“We really felt like we were good enough to win first in provincials but happy to have place second at the end of the day,” Findlay said.
Their badminton careers both began in elementary school after noticing the popularity of the sport in Carman. They like the fast-paced atmosphere and the competitive nature.
“We really enjoyed playing against and seeing competitors from all over Manitoba at the provincial competition,” Findlay added.
Mark Findlay, James Ballantyne and Mark Pritchard coached the boys through their 85 games this year. Mark Findlay, Linden’s dad, said they are a pleasure to coach, commenting on their drive and commitment.
“They played a consistent high caliber style of game right through to the finals,” he added.
