The high school girls badminton season is nearly halfway through, so this is far to late to be called a preview. West Valley Preps and Independent Newspapers asked local high school coaches about how the season is going so far. Here are their responses.

Ironwood Eagles

Coach: Brett Stafford (ninth year)
2020 Record: 17-0 (Division II state champions)
Region: Division II Peoria
Who are your top returning players? Returning players are Diana Ramirez, Juliana Rowen.
Who are some of the newcomers making an impact this year? New to the varsity but have been on the team for 4 years are Lexi Hogan, Zofia Martinez and Evelyn McHenry and they are helping make an impact.
What is your team’s best attribute in the early matches of this season? The team is showing great determination and knowledge of the game and our upper classmen are playing with very good skill.
What are your primary team and individual goals this season? Every year we set the goal to win team state.  We also have the goal to win section and get a state championship in singles or doubles.

Liberty Lions

Coach: Phillip Knight (fourth year)
2020 Record: 5-7 (Division I first round)
Region: Division I Desert Valley
Who are your top returning players? Hannah Kubala, Hailey Connor, Riley Jones and Deeksha Aithal.
Who are some of the newcomers making an impact this year? Tatum Sanders and Katie Senseman are doing really well on the JV team.
What is your team’s best attribute in the early matches of this season? The girls are doing a great job of competing for every point. They are working to develop their game while trying to identify what their opponents are trying to do.
What are your primary team and individual goals this season? Our team goals are to win the region and go far in the Team State Tournament. Our individual goals are to place in the top four for singles and doubles.

Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions

Coach: Tim Rosinbum (11th year)
2020 Record: 10-3 (Division I quarterfinals)
Region: Division I Desert Valley
Who are your top returning players? Ali Roskelley, Samantha Rawson and Stella Wesson complete our core of three seniors, and they are impressive players and high quality people. They play in the No. 1, 2 and 3 spots in singles, and Sam and Stella play at No. 1 doubles.
Who are some of the newcomers are making an impact this year? We have a couple of juniors stepping up on to varsity this year, Teagan Pereira and Maranda Rogers. Also, a sophomore made the leap from outside of JV last year up to varsity, and her name is Kate Williams. She will be an exciting player to watch over the next few years.
What is your team’s best attribute in the early matches of this season? We have good team chemistry and a no-quit attitude. We have some work to do in our play and skill, but the baseline is there.

Sunrise Mountain Mustangs

Coach: Missy Carter (first year)
2020 Record: 10-2 (Second round of Division II playoffs)
Region: Division II Peoria
Who are your top returning players? My top returning players are Karah Abbot and Ashley Robertson. They are both seniors and returning varsity.
Who are some of the newcomers making an impact this year? Rylan Rhodes (Soph.), Kylie Milner (Sr.), Hattie Hearnan (Sr.) and Camille Martin (Jr,) complete my varsity roster. All are returning JV players from last year. They each have shown a lot of improvement and determination.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? I think our experience and hard work has paid off early. That on top of a great group of girls that get along and support each other. It has been a fun season so far.
What are your primary team and individual goals this season? Our goal is for sure to make it to the state tournament and be ranked in the top 8. As far as individual goals we are still figuring out who will go to state as an individual and a double team. I hope to have that that figured out this week.

Valley Vista Monsoon

Coach: Rebecca Milobar (fourth year)
2020 Record: 2-9 (Did not reach playoffs)
Region: Division I Metro
Who are your top returning players? Ailani Rodriquez, Adela Alvarez and Abby Menor.
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? Danielle Fincham is new to the team this year and returning 10th grades will be Natalie Cowles and Mary Ann Chavez
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? We have put in a lot of hard work during the off season and focused a lot on court movement and skills.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? Our main goal is to win our region again this year and achieve an academic banner. Our individual goal is to maintain self confidence during difficult times.

Willow Canyon Wildcats

Coach: Matthew Aragon (second year in badminton)
2020 Record: 0-10 (Did not reach playoffs)
Region: Division II Phoenix
Who are your top returning players? McKenna Lee, Ava Kupczyk and Mya Welling
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? Sophia Bell and Atheena Fernandez
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Determination and positivity.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? To have more wins this year both individually and as a team.