Young Hawks get taste of badminton

Teacher shares knowledge of the game as a club sport

Hampton’s gymnasium is converted into a badminton court three times a week as part of a new badminton club for students in the fifth through eighth grade. Participants compete Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and on Saturday mornings in a five-week spring season.

Growing up in Northern California Desiree Christenson enjoyed the sport of badminton, so much so that she continued playing on her high school team and later in college as a club sport.
It’s not the game many Midwesterners envision, she pointed out, swatting a birdie underhanded through the summer breeze at a backyard barbecue. No, badminton is a sport, an Olympic sport in fact.
“It’s an exciting game that takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and it gets the heart rate going,” she said. “When you play doubles, there is actually a lot of strategy, camaraderie and teamwork involved.”

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