Highlanders off to 2-1 start
Piedmont High School’s badminton team is off to a 2-1 start to the season in West Alameda County Conference play after a 10-5 victory over Tennyson at Binks Gymnasium on March 12.
The Highlanders eight of nine doubles matches en route to the victory. Piedmont’s Mandy Tang and Maddie Tran defeated Cona Takasaki and Kylee Fowler, 21-5, 21-4 in the No. 1 match to lead a sweep in girls doubles. Ava Saephan and Sophia Li took the No. 2 match over Linh Dao and Zinnia Rae Sio, 21-9, 21-6. Chloe Hong and Maddie Lee beat Daleah Jara and Marina Janairo at No. 3, 21-7, 21-6.
The Highlanders also swept mixed doubles with Johnny Phmah and Naomi Treichler beating Rakshith Natarajan and Karyl Angel Nievarez at No. 1, 21-8, 21-2. Edison Zhu and Sophia Clark defeated Ivy and Ivan Ly at No. 2, 21-10, 21-10. Nathan Tuan and Katie Tran downed Cam and Nestor Torres Javiel in the No. 3 match.
Duncan Pan follows through a shot against Tennyson’s Noah Inting. Pan won, helping the Highlanders to a 10-5 victory. 
Tyler Shaw during a doubles match against Tennyson on March 12 at Binks Gymnasium. Shaw and partner Bryan Heafey scored a straight set win. 
Nathan Tuan (left) and Katie Tran during their match against Tennyson.
In boys doubles, Chase Hench and Mike Swei won the No. 1 match for the Highlanders while Brian Heafey and Tyler Shaw took No. 2.
On March 10, Piedmont lost 12-3 at home to Berkeley. Tang and Tran took the No. 1 girls doubles match while Saephan and Li won at No. 2. Phmah and Treichler took the No. 1 mixed doubles match.
On March 5, the Highlanders won at Encinal, 11-4. This time, Piedmont took seven of nine doubles matches, sweeping girls and taking two out of three in boys and mixed.
Walden Pan won the No. 1 boys singles match and Shou Presley came from behind to take the No. 2 match for the Highlanders.
Next on the schedule is a March 17 match at Hayward.