THE REAR VIEW MIRROR

There were some interesting matches last week where a shift of a couple of points here and there would have changed outcomes completely. A shift of four points Monday would have produced a 4-3 win by Park Center over Como Park. On that same day three more points for Humboldt in one set would have made it 4-3 for the Hawks over Eden Prairie. Four points would have given Johnson a 5-2 win at Edina on Tuesday, ending the Hornets unbeaten streak. Four points again would have given Twin Cities Academy a win over Hiawatha Collegiate 4-3 on Thursday at the EMAC tournament. Only two points would have sent Hmong College Prep to the finals instead of Prairie Seeds Academy with a 4-3 victory. A shift of two would have been enough for a 4-3 Minnetonka win over visiting Camden Thursday.

What does this mean? Take nothing for granted. Every point matters.

There were key battles with top teams across the conference lines both involving Johnson. As stated previously the Governors were whiskers away from turning the tables on the Hornets. The Govs then trekked over to Roosevelt to battle the one of the Minneapolis leaders. That featured four competitive matches that split. The other three contests in the 3s and 4s were clearly in favor of Johnson showcasing depth throughout the line up.

The first of the tournaments took place on Thursday at Hmong College Prep Academy with the Eastern MN Athletic Conference team tournament. Minneapolis and St. Paul will hold their annual events during the week of May 4. Those are individual events and great preparation leading into the state tournament the following week. If the EMAC had run an individual portion instead of a team event, my guess the singles champ would be Jenny Lee of Community of Peace Academy, the only unbeaten first singles player left in the state. She had two wins in two sets not allowing her opponent to reach double digits in either match. As for doubles that crown probably would be delivered to Maddie Her and Kafoua Yang of Prairie Seeds Academy. They finished 2-0 on the day with HCPA providing the stiffest test in the semis in a three set match. The only conference that does not provide a launch pad for the post season is the ten team Suburban group. That is a missed opportunity to experience the crucible of stress with multiple matches in one day prior to state.

Only two more teams to go to reach all 32. That will be accomplished this week. Last week I knocked Minneapolis North on Monday, and then Hiawatha Collegiate and Twin Cities Academy at the EMAC Tournament on Thursday. That took me to 93.75% of all teams. Next up Fridley and Washington and a perfect 100.

SOFT DRIVE OR DROP, NO MATTER WHAT THE TERM DEADLY

Last week we looked at the smash and who was strong in the power game. This week we examine what I term the soft drive. Usually attempted from deeper on the court that falls just over the net. Kind of like a change up with a little speed taken off. It forces the opponent to scramble to the net (if they were near the back line) and take the bird near their shoelaces. It is a heart breaker for opponents. It is used to great effect on the second shot by most players and the St. Paul players have this shot down pat in their arsenal.

So far in the matches I have charted the winner has had more Soft Drives than their opponent 13-6-2. That last number indicates both players had the same amount of soft drives. Last week was odd however with the leader on this shot losing in three of the matches. And the margin of success was two (Southwest losing to North); four (Johnson losing to Edina) and three (Roosevelt losing to Johnson). Three times the losing player has reached double digits. Only one time has a winner reached double digits. For the year winners have 84, losers 65, a difference of 19.

In the world of badminton this shot is just called the drop. (They call “net shots” what I call “drops”).

Here are the leaders of the “Soft Drive” or “Drop” depending on your terminology on a per set basis.

Name	School	Opponent	Per set	W/L
Mollie Anderson	Roosevelt	Johnson	5.00	L
Mollie Anderson	Roosevelt	Burnsville	4.00	W
Jenny Lee	COPA	Prairie Seeds	4.00	W
Allie	North St. Paul	Tartan	4.00	W
Nica Johnson	Highland	Eden Prairie	3.67	L
Lily	Washburn	Southwest	3.67	L

And by total:

Name	School	Opponent	Total	W/L
Lily	Washburn	Southwest	11	L
Nica Johnson	Highland	Eden Prairie	11	L
Mollie Anderson	Roosevelt	Johnson	10	L
Kaysa	Southwest	Washburn	10	W
Mollie Anderson	Roosevelt	Johnson	10	L

And by difference

Name	School	Opponent	DIF	W/L
Mollie Anderson	Roosevelt	Burnsville	8	W
Nica Johnson	Highland	Eden Prairie	7	L
Allie	North St. Paul	Tartan	6	W
Jenny Lee	COPA	Prairie Seeds	6	W
Kpru Paw	Humboldt	Tartan	5	W
Angela Yang	Park Center	Math & Science	5	L

Clearly it is more important to have a better differential than a higher total. In other words don’t get dropped on (or get soft drived).

THE WEEK IN NUMBERS

TEAM MATCHES: 37

SINGLES

INDIVIDUAL MATCHES 148

2 SETS: 119 (.804)

3 SETS: 29 (.196)

TOTAL SETS: 325

SETS DECIDED 10+: 53 (.358)

SETS DECIDED 3-: 26 (.176)

EXTRA POINT SETS: 24 (11-9-4) (.074)

BIGGEST MARGIN: 19.00 Jenny Lee, Community of Peace 1S v Hiawatha Thursday

SMALLEST MARGIN: -1.67 La Ku Shine, Como Park 3S v Park Center Monday

DOUBLES

INDIVIDUAL MATCHES: 111

2 SETS: 95 (.856)

3 SETS: 16 (.144)

TOTAL SETS: 238

EXTRA POINT SETS: X

SETS DECIDED BY 10+: 43 (.387)

SETS DECIDED BY 3-: 10 (.091)

BIGGEST MARGIN: 17.5 Daisy Hennington-Hoff / Ella Burke, Edina 1D v Minnetonka

SMALLEST MARGIN: -1.00 Riley Olson / Caroline Meyers, Minneapolis South 3D v Minneapolis North

THE ROAD AHEAD

There are only three weeks left of the regular season, and less than a month to wrap up 2026 with the state tournament, team and individual starting the week of Monday, May 11.

Key match ups this week will include #2 Harding at #1 Edina on Friday in a triangular with Math & Science. The Hornets 52 game winning streak, second longest in badminton state history, will be tested by the Knights and Dragons. Prior to that match up North St. Paul and Eden Prairie will travel to Edina.

The Minneapolis conference race will be more than likely decided in a back to back series with Camden and Roosevelt. Wednesday the Teddies host; Thursday the Patriots host. All in all a busy week with 43 matches.

UNDEFEATED

The Hornets remained unbeaten with two more victories against then #2 Johnson and the next day against Minnetonka.

The ranks of individuals were thinned out. Isabel Chen of Minnetonka lost to Aarushi Bhatnagar on Wednesday and then Sophia Mitchell of Roosevelt fell to Amanda Her of Johnson on Friday. That leaves only one unbeaten first singles left: Jenny Lee of Community of Peace. Second singles still has three still standing.

First doubles is also down to one remaining pair: Abigeya Akalewold and Ella Fremstad of Roosvelt lost to Johnson’s Gaonou and Angelina on Friday. The Governors lost to the last pair standing on Tuesday at Edina Daisy Hennington-Hoff and Ella Burke, but with the slim margin of 2.33. They did manage to take one set off the Hornets. Last year’s state champs Peterson and Coma did not lose a set in 2025. At this point it appears only one second doubles is unscathed so far: Kelly Yang and Lydia Vang of Harding. They have a pair of wins at first doubles.

TEAMS: 1 Edina

1^st SINGLES: 1: Jenny Lee, Commuity of Peace

2^nd SINGLES: 3 (minimum 2 matches): Tsuki Solheid, Como Park; Chelsey, Community of Peace; Sophia Mitchell, Roosevelt

1^ST DOUBLES: (minimum 2 matches) 1: Daisy Hennington-Hoff / Ella Burke, Edina

2^ND DOUBLES: (minimum 2 matches) 1: Kelly Yang / Lydia Vang, Harding

STANDINGS

SAINT PAUL

SCHOOL	CW	CL	TW	TL	SW	SL	DW	DL
Harding	8	1	8	1	25	7	25	2
Johnson	7	1	8	2	25	15	23	7
Como Park	6	3	7	5	34	14	13	23
Humboldt	4	5	5	7	29	19	10	26
Central	2	6	4	6	15	25	9	21
Highland Park	2	6	5	7	17	31	25	11
Washington	1	8	2	8	11	29	8	22

MINNEAPOLIS

SCHOOL	CW	CL	TW	TL	SW	SL	DW	DL
Roosevelt	7	0	10	2	44	4	30	6
Camden	5	0	7	1	24	12	23	4
Edison	4	2	6	2	25	7	17	7
South	3	5	3	5	8	24	10	14
Washburn	2	6	2	7	10	26	5	22
Southwest	2	6	2	7	11	25	4	23
North	1	5	1	6	6	22	6	15

SUBURBAN

SCHOOL	CW	CL	TW	TL	SW	SL	DW	DL
Edina	5	0	8	0	29	3	21	3
Eden Prairie	5	1	7	1	21	11	20	4
Wayzata	3	2	4	2	10	14	11	7
Park Center	2	1	6	5	26	18	15	18
North St. Paul	2	1	4	4	20	12	10	14
Tartan	1	2	1	4	1	19	12	3
Burnsville	1	4	2	4	10	14	4	14
Kennedy	1	5	2	7	10	26	6	21
Minnetonka	0	4	2	6	14	18	10	14
Fridley	0	1	0	3	0	12	0	9

CHARTERS/PRIVATES

SCHOOL	CW	CL	TW	TL	SW	SL	DW	DL
Community of Peace	8	1	8	1	34	2	16	11
Math & Science	1	1	7	3	21	19	26	4
Prairie Seeds	4	4	4	5	12	24	15	12
Hmong CPA	2	3	2	6	17	15	7	17
Eagle Ridge	1	0	1	2	5	7	3	6
Twin City Academy	1	3	1	3	7	9	3	9
Hiawatha	1	5	1	7	1	31	6	18
Com. School of Excellence	0	2	0	2	0	8	0	6

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

1. Roosevelt 44
2. Como Park 34
3. Community of Peace 34
4. Edina 29
5. Humboldt 29

TEAM DOUBLES WINS

1. Roosevelt 30
2. Math & Science 26
3. Highland Park 25
4. Harding 25
5. Camden 23
6. Johnson 23

RANKINGS

No changes at the top in all three categories. Changes around the 7 spot and below.

TEAM

1. Edina 8-0
2. Harding 8-1
3. Johnson 8-2
4. Eden Prairie 7-1
5. Como Park 7-5
6. Highland Park 5-7
7. Roosevelt 10-2
8. Math & Science 7-3
9. Humboldt 5-7
10. Central 4-6
11. Washington 2-8
12. North St. Paul 4-4
13. Community of Peace 8-1
14. Wayzata 4-2
15. Burnsville 2-4
16. Park Center 6-5
17. Tartan 1-4
18. Camden 7-1
19. Kennedy 2-7
20. Minnetonka 2-6
21. Prairie Seeds 4-5
22. Hmong CPA 2-6
23. Edison 6-2
24. South 3-5
25. Southwest 2-7
26. Washburn 2-7
27. Mpls North 1-6
28. Eagle Ridge 1-2
29. Hiawatha 1-7
30. Twin City Academy 1-3
31. Fridley 0-3
32. Community School of Excellence 0-2

INDIVIDUALS

This is the third week with a different #1 at singles. What does that mean? Could there be a different #1 in week 6? The field is wide open with possibilities. Sometimes the gap between #1 and #2 is a mile wide. Sometimes the gap between #1 and #9 is wafer thin. The current singles race leans in that direction.

SINGLES

1. Evelyn Ge, Edina 4-1
2. Gao Zhia Vue, Harding 8-1
3. Amanda Her, Johnson 8-2
4. Niko Solheid, Como Park 10-2
5. Tsuki Solheid, Como Park2 12-0
6. Nica Johnson, Highland Park 6-6
7. Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie 6-2
8. Mollie Anderson, Roosevelt 10-1
9. Jenny Lee, Community of Peace 9-0
10. Sophia Mitchell, Roosevelt2 12-0
11. Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina2 7-1
12. Isabel Chen, Minnetonka 5-1
13. Kpru Paw, Humboldt 4-8
14. Rose Braun, Central 3-5
15. Paige Xiong, Harding2 7-2
16. Angela Yang, Park Center 6-5

DOUBLES

1. Daisy Hennington-Hoff/ Ella Burke, Edina 8-0
2. Alice Verbrugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park 6-1
3. Gaonou Vang / Angelina Thao, Johnson 2-1
4. Cammie Yang / Aliya Vang, Johnson 8-2
5. Gray Mo / Cindy Yang, Harding 7-2
6. Kelly Yang / Lydia Vang, Harding2 9-0
7. Asta Ket / Lana Yang, Como Park 6-6
8. Lwe Paw / Way Ber Paw, Humboldt 6-5
9. Abigeya Akalewold / Ella Fremstad, Roosevelt 9-0
10. Sanjana Tatikonda / Sathvika Tatikonda, Math & Science 8-1
11. Alexa Bernardy / Ashtyn Bernardy, Eden Prairie 6-2
12. Caitlin / Angela, Edina2 5-1
13. Abby Putz / Julia Yang, Highland2 8-4
14. Vikki Burdette / Aniya Mehta, Eden Prairie2 4-1
15. Marina Chang / Cathy Hang, Central 2-8
16. Eh Christ Moo / Elliyan Chan, Washington 0-9