Team Previews as the IAAM Badminton Season Takes Flight
By Maria Beam Gray
With the 2025 IAAM spring badminton season underway, we take a look at participating varsity programs and hear from coaches as to their expectations, outlooks, and what players are most likely to make a smash on the court.
FRIENDS SCHOOL
Coach: Isabel Cooke, 4th season.
Outlook: Cooke, a former badminton player for Friends, expands her staff to include two additional alumni players in coaches Boni Salmeron and Meg Mossman. The trio is striving to build upon last season’s 3-6 record as they aim for players to “have fun, build confidence, and improve their skills”.
Players to Watch: The Quakers see promise in their 2024 All-Conference nominees Skye Linkroum and Julia Reifsnyder. Playing in the #4 spot in their freshmen year, the now sophomores have ascended to the #1 doubles team. Cooke is confident the pair will continue to see rapid progress in only their second year playing the sport.
GARRISON FOREST
Coach: Crystal Lee, 4th season.
Outlook: The program’s last championship came in 2017 and after a 6-3 season last year, the Grizzlies are off to a 2-1 start and continuing to build momentum. Lee states they are “looking to get better every day and have a lot of fun” doing so. Lee’s former Garrison Forest coach from 1992-1996, long-term head coach Kim Marlor, returns to the sidelines to infuse her expertise into the program as an assistant coach.
Players to Watch: Senior Gracie Kothari is playing her second season with the Grizzlies and will compete at the #1 Singles spot.
GLENELG COUNTRY SCHOOL
Coaches: Heather Vavalle and Lauren Ruewer, 2nd season.
Outlook: The team is raw but learning with about half of the Varsity roster in only their first or second year of playing badminton. Vavalle is upbeat about the Dragons noting that “the team has a great, positive attitude, and we hope they learn to play the game, improve throughout the season, and have fun.”
Players to Watch: Senior Nancy Guo is new to the team and is slotted for Doubles 2. Junior Ella Madhok has moved to Singles 1 and Vavalle is impressed with her efforts to date. In the Doubles 1 spot, sophomores Joyce Yun and Aarushi Sansare are partnering up for the Dragons.
MARYVALE PREP
Co-Coaches: Kate Dempsey, 3rd season, and Brendan Bailey, 1st season.
Outlook: After a solid 6-3 record in 2024, the squad blends in youth and will graduate only three seniors - captains Elise Gran, Addie LeBoutillier, and Emily Gilley. Sophomore Natalia Huculak will take on the singles #1 spot while juniors Erin Dobbs and Bailey Parton take on the #1 doubles position. The coaching staff is looking long term as despite player inexperience at the varsity level, the goal is to stay competitive and build a program “capable of winning championships for years to come.”
Players to Watch: Freshmen Molly Grayson and Sarah Navarro. The duo make their varsity debut pairing up as a doubles team after going undefeated together in middle school. Coach Bailey has seen steady growth from the rookies and hails them as “future superstars” for the Lions.
ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL
Coach: Ashley Himelfarb, 8th season.
Outlook: The Reds went 4-5 last season and are aspiring for a top three finish at the championships this year. The roster includes a wealth of returners as well as a freshmen class who bring, according to their coach, an “athletic background and transposable skills” to the table.
“I hope that our athletes gain skill at practice, put them into play during matches, and have fun,” Himelfarb added.
Other participating IAAM badminton programs include Bryn Mawr, Notre Dame Prep, John Carroll, St. Paul’s School for Girls, and St. Timothy’s.