#16 CAMDEN 6, #17 MINNETONKA 1
The 2025 badminton state tournament team portion got underway on Monday. All the lower seeds and hosts won their matches, with 7-0 winning out six times of the eight matches. Camden, formerly known as Henry, beat newcomer Minnetonka 6-1, one of two decided by that score. The Patriots were the 16 seed and the Skippers one behind at 17. Minnetonka’s only victory came at first singles, but they pushed Camden to three at third singles and first doubles. Overall, after the first sets were in the books, Camden was only ahead 4-3, and that included the third doubles margin in extra points of two (23-21).
Looking at the margins throughout the match Camden gained strength as the match wore on. Don’t be deceived by the reported margins in singles and doubles. Singles had a lower margin by 1.1, but it was doubles that really had the competitive action. Four sets in doubles were decided by three points or less with Camden taking three.
Camden’s reward for the win today is to head to #1 Edina for a contest with the Hornets. Also at Edina in the other match is #8 North St. Paul v #9 Washington.
SINGLES
1 Isabel Chen, M def Shayla Thao 21-15, 21-3
2 Porsoua Ya, C def Charlotte Emanoff 21-7, 21-9
3 Michelle Vang, C def Leana Shlendich 11-21, 21-10, 21-13
4 Lisa Pha, C def Francesca Iannone 21-12, 21-11
DOUBLES
1 Aniya Vang / Aleena Yang, C def Allison Lei / Vivian Nguyen 19-21, 21-19, 21-8
2 Diana Vang / Jeri Vang, C def Maggie Karels / Ruby Kirk 21-15, 21-14
3 Anne Thao/ Hannah Vue, C def Olivia Pederson/ Ella Farnum 23-21, 21-18
BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Camden 3-1 .750
Games: Camden 6-3 .667
points: Camden 155-125 .554
Set 1 points: Camden 68-61 .527
Set 2 points: Camden 66-51 .564
Set 3 points: Camden 21-13 .618
decided by 10+: Camden 4-2 .667
decided by 3-: none
margin: Camden 3.333
DOUBLES
Matches: Camden 3-0 1.000
Games: Camden 6-1 .857
points: Camden 147-116 .559
Set 1 points: Camden 63-57 .525
Set 2 points: Camden 63-51 .553
Set 3 points: Camden 21-8 .724
decided by 10+: Camden 1-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Camden 3-1 .750
margin: Camden 4.429
FIRST SINGLES
Isabel CHEN 2, Shayla THAO 0
(reported 21-15, 21-3 recorded 19-13, 21-5)
A week after winning the Minneapolis singles title Shayla Thao was smothered by Isabel Chen of Minnetonka. Thao struggled in the side out game while Chen doubled up on winners 27-13 over Thao. Mega runs put Chen in the driver’s seat in both sets.
In the opening set, on her second service, she rang up seven straight and was cruising along at 12-2. Thao recovered after trailing 14-3 with a run of six to make the set more interesting at 14-9. An eight-stroke smash ended that momentum and put it back with Chen.
Chen opened the second set much like the first with a big run of seven including three smashes in that sequence. But an even bigger run was awaiting. Chen exploded for 13 more in her second service (she only had two services in the second set) and was on the verge at 20-3. Thao held off the inevitable twice before Chen delivered a four-stroke smash.
Chen consistently favored winners on the left side. 18 or 67% found their way to that side of the court.
It was a mystery why there was another scoring discrepancy. This was the second time Thao was involved with scores that were not fully 21. The totals were off by six in the combined action today.
| Category | CHEN | THAO |
| Side out | 6/10-.600 | 2/9-.222 |
| Longest side out string | 4 | 2 |
| 3+ Runs | 4 | 2 |
| Longest point string | 13 | 6 |
| SERVING | ||
| First serve | 2 | 1 |
| First point | 1, 2 | |
| Service points | 30 | 9 |
| Serving % | 40/40-1.000 | 19/19-1.000 |
| Point generated off serve | .750 | .500 |
| POINTS | 40 | 18 |
| Points after 11 | 20 | 14 |
| Points after own errors | 3 | 3 |
| Winners after own errors | 2 | 3 |
| STROKES | 182 | 104 |
| Strokes per point | 4.55 | 5.778 |
| 5+ rallies (%) | 17 | 6 |
| 2- rallies (%) | 10 | 7 |
| WINNERS | 27 | 13 |
| Aces | 2 | 1 |
| Blocks | 2 | 0 |
| Clears | 0 | 1 |
| Drives | 6 | 4 |
| Drops | 4 | 2 |
| Soft drives | 4 | 1 |
| Smashes | 9 | 4 |
| Even Stroke Winners | 6 | 8 |
| 2nd Stroke Winners | 0 | 2 |
| Odd Stroke Winners | 21 | 5 |
| ERRORS | 5 | 13 |
| Deep | 0 | 0 |
| Net | 4 | 9 |
| Wide | 1 | 4 |
| Serve | 0 | 0 |
| Even stroke errors | 3 | 11 |
| 2nd stroke errors | 2 | 5 |
| Odd stroke errors | 2 | 2 |
| WINNER LOCATION | ||
| Left | 18 | 3 |
| Right | 9 | 10 |
| Largest Lead | 11, 16 | 0 |
| W:E Ratio | 5.400 | 1.000 |
| Margin | 11.000 | |
| Set Point % | 2/6-.333 | |
| Time | 16:25 |