Holy Rosary High School student athletes Loriss Baluyot and Andrea Castelo were all smiles after winning a Group B silver medal at Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association badminton provincials in Edmonton from May 3-4. Supplied Photo
Two athletes from Holy Rosary High School (HRHS) are finishing their secondary school sports careers on a high note after winning a Group B Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association silver for badminton at provincials in Edmonton.
This may have been their first year playing together, but the senior girl’s doubles team of Andrea Castelo and Loriss Baluyot achieved what they didn’t think was possible over the weekend of May 3-4 as they returned with some new hardware.
“We were already happy to make it to provincials, so winning something just added to it more,” said Castelo. “We made the best of the last day of competition and ended up with a silver.”
“We were so happy,” added Baluyot when asked what she was feeling while standing on the podium.
“It was overwhelming because it was our first year playing together, and it was also our first provincials together.”
Both girls are relatively new to competitive badminton, but you’d never guess that was the case through the way they speak of the sport.
“(The key to success on the court is to) try your hardest and just have fun; don’t overthink it because it’s going to mess with your mental state. It’s all about keeping that mentality and staying focused,” explained Baluyot.
Being a team sport, Castelo and Baluyot both had great things to say about each other, having spent a fair amount of time together preparing for provincials.
“She’s someone I can trust; she’s always there covering me,” said Castelo. “If we’re down, she’s always bringing us back up with words of encouragement.”
“She was good. She had my back every time and I think we have a good connection,” added Baluyot.
HRHS guidance counsellor and one of the badminton coaches, Jason Almond, backed up Baluyot’s statement when it came to girls’ connection.
“This turned out to be the perfect connection; they’re both strong players and bringing them together to be partners this year seemed like the perfect marriage,” he said, noting one word to describe both athletes would be resilient.
“It was really exciting because their chemistry connected right from the start.”
