Friday and Saturday nights, students who find themselves walking through the Integrated Wellness Center may stumble across a growing club at Winona State practicing new skills, playing in tournaments or volleying with their friends. The Winona State Badminton club began in November as a way for students to fill their nights by being active and enhancing their abilities.
The club hosts about eight tournaments throughout the year, their next one being on March 21. They meet every Friday and Saturday at 8:30 pm until 10 pm in Talbot Gym. On average, the club gets about 15-20 members, with a mix of regular attendees and new players. They provide the rackets and nets, and encourage anyone to show up and start playing, regardless of your experience.
“If you’re a beginner, you don’t have to worry… we are really welcoming to everyone, wherever you are on the skill level,” the club’s social media manager, and third year Winona State student, Sayeeda Khan said. For game play, the leaders try to pair people up and team them against people of similar skill levels, so that everyone has the best opportunity to learn and grow and have fun while playing.
“For me, badminton has been a way to relieve myself of stress at the end of the week,” Khan said. “It’s something that I really look forward to; the community there is really fun to be around.” She recommends attending consistently to better develop your skills and to keep active after the week has ended. Badminton is a great sport for cardio, keeping students moving and providing them with a social setting that is encouraging and supportive. Whether you’re looking to be competitive or play a few chill rounds, the badminton club is great way to get involved in an intramural sport on campus.
Secretary of the club, and fourth year student, Mandie Schmidt, just started playing badminton this year and has found it a rewarding experience. “Being able to learn something new and also see improvement in myself has been really empowering, and I think that’s been my favorite aspect of it,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt emphasizes that the experience isn’t scary for any beginners who want to join. The community is very relaxed and friendly, and everyone is very happy to help you learn. “You’ll pick it up as you go along,” Schmidt states, reflecting on how much she’s grown since first beginning when the club started. “Just give yourself grace, remind yourself that you’re doing it for fun.” The best way for students to learn is through showing up and playing, making mistakes and doing their best.
On April 17, the club plans on hosting an End of the Semester tournament with special guests from campus faculty and catering provided. They hope that their club and tournament participants continue to grow throughout the semester, and that everyone continues to learn and grow within the sport. Students who are interested in joining can join the email list, sign the waiver, and watch for updates through the club’s Instagram: wsubadmintonclub. It is a great opportunity for students to learn new skills or try something new and make new friends!
