By Adam Frisk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The sound of whooshing shuttlecocks zipping through the air has returned to the gymnasium at Hal High, signalling the start of the Red Hawks’ badminton season.
The program saw a spike in participation this year, and with a roster of 36 players, the team is balancing a youth movement of beginners with a senior squad aiming for the championships. And for Jason Morissette, who is returning for his 28th season as coach of the badminton program, he’sexcited for what’s ahead this spring.
“So we have a lot of new juniors out for badminton. We had a very large number come out this year, which is great for school spirit and just wanting participation,”
Morissette told The Highlander. “A lot of new Grade 9s, a lot of new Grade 10s, our junior team has a lot of new players, and it’s the first time ever playing badminton for them.”
Since for many students, this is their first time picking up a racket, and because of the relatively short high school season, the coaches have taken on a high-tempo training philosophy.
“I guess I call it speed badminton,” thecoach explained. “We’re teaching them to get, and to grow their confidence and make them feel good about their abilities.”
While the focus for the juniors is primarily on enjoyment and skill-building, Morissette said a few returning players have their eyes on the championships. The senior team provides the competitive backbone of the program, and highlighting the roster is a ladies’ doubles team that secured a third-place finish at the Central Ontario Secondary School Athletics (COSSA) championships last year.
The coach explained that many of the returning seniors are not just playing for themselves; they are also serving as mentors. He pointed to a unique bond where two of the highest-ranked players in central Ontario are helping to train the Grade 9s.
“They’ve already started to teach them position and technique,” Morissette said. “Because this is what we do here. And we remind them that these Grade 12 girls started just like you did four years ago. It’s a process.”
While badminton is often viewed as an individual sport, the Red Hawks are committed to building a team identity, the coach said. From the “significant” experience of travelling together on the bus, to a point system where every individual’s win contributes to a team trophy.
“You always know that when you’re going into that gym, you’re going in as a Red Hawk team,” Morissette said. “We’ve always taken pride in that, and as we walk into a gym, you know, here come the Red Hawks and here comes the Badminton team. We’ve had a strong tradition of that.
We always support each other by cheering each other’s matches on.”
When asked what the ultimate goal for the season is, the coach looked past the standings.
“I want to create memories for kids that they can look back on when they’re 50 years old and say, ‘hey, I played high school badminton, and I played high school sports, and it was a lot of fun,’” he said. “Whether you won or lost, at least you can look back
and say it was something memorable.”
And asked for the three words that define the 2026 Red Hawks? The coach simply said: “Enthusiastic, happy, and optimistic.”
