2026 BADMINTON POLL 1
The 2026 badminton season is under way and has been since March 12. With my schedule filled with the girls basketball tournament in the first week, I was not able to get out until this week. I was able to chart matches from Monday to Wednesday, but due to a death in the family, my Thursday window was closed. As a result I have charted six of the 24 teams that have played so far. That puts me at 18.75% for 32 teams. Obviously a ways to go to hit 100%.
NEW SEASON, NEW COACHES, NEW TEAMS
There have been changes in the coaching ranks. All four schools that were at the top of the conference leaderboards last year are under new leadership—-including three-time state champion Edina. There are 11 new coaches in the established programs, a turnover rate of 36.67%, the highest since I have been charting. Add two new programs and there are 13 new coaches (or 40.63%).
Some of these coaches have been active at other schools in the past (Zoe, Jumy Miko, David Lu); some are doing a second stint (Justin Reese, KZ Lee).
| School | New |
| Como Park | Oo Meh |
| Humboldt | Jesse Day |
| Highland Park | Timothy Lang |
| Roosevelt | Rachelle Peterson |
| Edina | Zoe |
| Fridley | Justin Reese |
| Tartan | Kaying Vang |
| Hmong CPA | Jundu Vue |
| Twin City Academy | Jillian Sharp |
| Community of Peace | KZ Lee |
| Math & Science | Jumy Miko |
| Community School of Excellence | ?? |
| Wayzata | David Lu |
The two new badminton programs are Wayzata and Community School of Excellence (mascot: The Mighty Ones). Wayzata brings the total in the Lake Conference to four with Edina, Eden Prairie and Minnetonka. CSoE is a charter school. For those unfamiliar (like I was) CSoE is located on 270 Larpenter west of Rice Street. The closest school would be Washington a couple of blocks south.
STANDINGS
SAINT PAUL
| SCHOOL | CW | CL | TW | TL | SW | SL | DW | DL |
| Harding | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Como Park | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Humboldt | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Central | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Johnson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Highland Park | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Washington | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 5 |
MINNEAPOLIS
| SCHOOL | CW | CL | TW | TL | SW | SL | DW | DL |
| Roosevelt | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Camden | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
| Washburn | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Edison | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| South | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| North | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
| Southwest | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
SUBURBAN
| SCHOOL | CW | CL | TW | TL | SW | SL | DW | DL |
| Eden Prairie | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| North St. Paul | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Minnetonka | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Park Center | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 6 |
| Wayzata | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Burnsville | ||||||||
| Edina | ||||||||
| Fridley | ||||||||
| Kennedy | ||||||||
| Tartan |
CHARTERS/PRIVATES
| SCHOOL | CW | CL | TW | TL | SW | SL | DW | DL |
| Community of Peace | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Prairie Seeds | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Math & Science | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Eagle Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Hmong CPA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Hiawatha | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Twin City Academy | ||||||||
| Community School of Excellence |
CW conference wins; CL conference losses
TW total wins; TL total losses
SW singles wins; SL singles losses
DW doubles wins; DL doubles losses
TEAM SINGLES WINS
- Roosevelt 12
- Central 10
- Como Park 9
- Eden Prairie 8
- Humboldt 7
TEAM DOUBLES WINS
- Roosevelt 8
- Camden 8
- Central 6
- Eden Prairie 5
- Humboldt 5
- Harding 5
RANKINGS
This is the first ranking for teams and singles/doubles for 2026. Only teams that have taken the court so far are included in the rankings. That means seven teams are not included…..yet. It also means that there will be extreme volatility in the rankings next week (maybe even week 3) until all teams are up and running. All St. Paul and Minneapolis teams are playing. Another factor in the volatility index will be the lack of the early season Edina Invitational. That event in the past was a portent of future action in May during state. The EI put top level players against each other in one day and gave a good foundation for rankings. Instead of three quality matches in one day, we will now have to wait until these players cross paths, and that might not before several weeks. Indeed, there will be some players that will not match racquets during the regular season and that will require triangulation. Buckle up, we are in for a bumpy ride.
TEAM
- Harding 2-0
- Eden Prairie 2-0
- Johnson 1-1
- Como Park 2-1
- Highland Park 0-2
- Central 3-1
- Humboldt 2-1
- Roosevelt 3-0
- Camden 3-0
- Washington 0-3
- Minnetonka 1-1
- North St. Paul 1-0
- Community of Peace 1-1
- Math & Science 0-1
- Park Center 1-2
- Hmong CPA 1-2
- Washburn 1-0
- Edison 1-1
- Prairie Seeds 1-1
- South 0-1
- Southwest 0-2
- Mpls North 0-2
- Wayzata 0-1
- Hiawatha 0-1
- Eagle Ridge 0-1
The other seven teams will be ranked once they begin play. They include: Burnsville, Edina, Fridley, Kennedy, Tartan, Twin City Academy, and Community School of Excellence.
INDIVIDUALS
In both singles and doubles the list will grow as more players begin action. This week we will start with nine players (or doubles teams) listed. There will be new champions at both singles and doubles as Su Meh of Johnson and Ivy Peterson & Sanna Coma of Edina (actually two time state champs) have graduated.
The leaders this week finished strong in the state tournament. Gao Zhia Vue was second to Su Meh in a three set final. Alice Vergugge and Violet Solem Valentine ended up in third place.
SINGLES
- Gao Zhia Vue, Harding 2-0
- Niko Solheid, Como Park 3-0
- Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie 2-0
- Tsuki Solheid, Como Park2 3-0
- Nica Johnson, Highland Park 0-2
- Sophia Mitchell, Roosevelt 3-0
- Isabel Chen, Minnetonka 2-0
- Cody Thao, Hmong College Prep Academy 3-0
- Jenny, Community of Peace 2-0
DOUBLES
- Alice Verbrugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park 2-0
- Cammie Yang / Aliya Vang, Johnson 2-0
- Lwe Paw / Way Ber Paw, Humboldt 3-0
- Gray Mo / Cindy Yang, Harding 1-1
- Asta Ket / Lana Yang, Como Park 1-2
- Abigeya Akalewold / Ella Fremstad, Roosevelt 3-0
- Danielle / Mu, North St. Paul 1-0
- Sanjana Tatikonda / Sathvika Tatikonda, Math & Science 1-0
- Aleena / Diana, Camden 3-0