BAY STATE GAMES: They watch the birdie in badminton

Enterprise, The (Brockton, MA) - Saturday, July 11, 2009

By Adam Riglian
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

Badminton is thought of by most as a gym class throwback or summer barbeque sport. For a select few entering this weekend's Bay State Games being held at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, it's a little more serious.

Kevin Black of Hanson is one of the few, along with fellow enthusiasts Rich Orlandi, Dave Hickey and Eric Brunelle, who will compete in the net sport at the games.

"Badminton is a fantastic game," said Black, 56, of Hanson, who first played the sport in college. "People who get hooked on it get a great workout and a great release for their competition.

"It's a very fast game and it's an aerobic game, but it's also a game that has a lot of skill to it too - the drop shots and the deep smashes."

Black, a physical education teacher at Hanson Middle School who coaches track and cross country at Whitman-Hanson High School, has organized a badminton adult education class at the middle school for the past four years.

The class has become a subsequent success, growing in number over the years.

"We have a core group of very dedicated badminton players, about 30, who want to play all the time," Black said. "To bring some of my group into the tournament is even more fun (for me)."

The four players from the class competing this weekend are entered in the recreational bracket. Black acknowledged that other local players have far more experience than his group, but knowing that won't affect his group's spirit.

"As you get into the world of badminton, there is an exceptional level of talent and I don't possess it at all," Black joked. "I don't expect to go too, too far in the tournament, but I do expect to have a good physically active day in a good environment. I'm looking forward to it."

"There is so much to be gained from sport and competition. Not only are we physically active when we play, but there is also a competitive spirit in every human being."

Brunelle, a technology education teacher at Hanson Middle School from Whitman, will compete in singles. He joined Black's group two years ago and has taken to the game.

"He's very knowledgeable about it, but he's also brought in some players who have played competitively and shown us some different things," Brunelle said. "We're planning to get the group a little more competitive so we can kind of bring it to the next level.

"To see some of the other people who are really good, it will be interesting for us to see. We're going to play, but also to watch."

The group doesn't just play for the fun of it. Black extols the games calorie-burning and aerobic virtues.

"You might not be able to go out and jog for two hours, but you can go out and play badminton for two or three hours and really burn a lot of calories and get a great workout."

This is the group's first foray into organized competition, but Brunelle and Black believe that the continued commitment from members will likely increase competitiveness and spread the game around the communities of Whitman and Hanson.

Even students are getting involved.

"It's one of our most popular sports at the middle school," Black said.

Singles events at the Bay State Games will take place today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The doubles groups will play on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.