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Badminton membership on the upswing

Junior badminton is on the rise in Stettler. Club badminton draws players from out of town, marking an enrolment increase in Stettler

Junior badminton is on the rise in Stettler.

Club badminton draws players from out of town, marking an enrolment increase in Stettler this season.

The Stettler Junior Badminton Club has 45 members whose ages range from eight to 19.

“We have a five per cent increase of players from last year,” said Bruce LaRocque, Stettler’s badminton club organizer and longtime coach.

“Our skill levels range from just learning to play to decent players.”

Practices take place on Monday and Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the school gyms.

“I hope we have a good year — we seem to have quite a bit of enthusiasm,” LaRocque said.

The Stettler club has new members from Red Deer playing in the program. Players from Castor and Big Valley also participate in Stettler.

“Red Deer has started a program this year,” LaRocque said. “Hopefully, at some point in time, we can have a home-and-home recreational battle.”

Members of the Stettler junior club have multiple chances throughout the season to play in tournaments throughout Alberta, and one in Saskatchewan.

Stettler plans to host a home tournament later in the season.

“We have a tournament on Nov. 30 (this Saturday) in Okotoks,” LaRocque said.

Next month, Stettler will host the Parkland Zone badminton tryouts for the 2014 Alberta Winter Games.