Badminton keeps on winning

In the badminton season opener against the East Los Angeles College, the Lancers kept their winning streak alive by beating the Huskies 15-6.

The Lancers have now won 24 straight conference matches and have not lost a match since the 2010 season. The current Lancer team is consists of all incoming freshman.

“This is the first time with a brand new team; I’ve always had returnees before,” said Coach Bill Sanchez.

Nerves were definitely in the air for the Lancers as the Huskies forced Gabby Anjani, Grace Espinoza, and Beatriz Bermudez all into three set matches. Alyssa Boyt, a transplant from Texas and a newcomer to the game was nervous, “I was shaking during my first match; I definitely had first game jitters,” she said.

“Alyssa has only been playing [badminton] for eight weeks and she’s picked it up fast,” said Sanchez.

To Cynthia Gutierrez the season opener was her first competitive game since graduating from Azusa High School in 2004. Gutierrez struggled at the beginning but pulled out wins in all four matches. She has not lost her competitive edge as she went for the kill at every chance she had.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played and found myself really tired through all of my matches,” said Gutierrez. With her doubles partner, Angie Ortiz, they were responsible for eight of the 15 scoring points. Ortiz who is playing at the No. 1 seat and Gutierrez playing at the No. 2 seat wasted no time blowing the competition away by not losing a set the entire game.

Having a whole new team might scare some coaches but not this coach, “This is a good group filled with hard workers,” said Sanchez.

Grace Espinoza, Bermudez, and Gutierrez, all came from Azusa High School. Their high school Coach Bob Colera was there to cheer them on.