Tabaranza trying to help get Bethel badminton get over hump
By Jose San Mateo/Times-Herald/
Posted: 04/17/2012 01:02:16 AM PDT
Bethel High School badminton player Kresta Tabaranza brought a whole bunch of her friends from Hogan High.
Tabaranza, a senior, is one of seven badminton players to come over to Bethel after Hogan closed its doors last summer and now she is the first of them earn Times-Herald Athlete of the Week. She earned the honor after a three-set victory over Benicia then a two-set win against top rival Rodriguez. The Jaguars won the tight match, 9-6.
Bethel (9-1, 8-0) is undefeated in Solano County Athletic Conference play and is looking to win the league title that eluded them the last two seasons. The win against the Mustangs was especially sweet after two losses to Rodriguez last season cost them a chance at the league crown.
"There is definitely a lot of pressure," Tabaranza said of her match against Rodriguez. "We really had to take each game seriously."
Tabaranza said that it was very nice to be undefeated in the SCAC so far this season. She said that the team often felt they were underdogs considering there were players from two different schools on Bethel's team.
Having so many familiar faces on the team has helped with team chemistry.
Stephany Arellano, Dana Guevarra, Jane Vega, Lori Ann Hormigosa, Jenica Ocampo and Ann Magday all came over from Hogan, along with Tabaranza.
"It wasn't a lot of pressure," Tabaranza said of moving from Hogan to Bethel. "There was a lot of motivation on varsity because a lot of us from Hogan had been together
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since freshman year."
Competition is often fierce in practice as position during matches is determined by challenges during practice. Tabaranza has consistently been one of the top players. She been anywhere from No. 1 to No. 3 this season but regardless of position Tabaranza has not lost a single match this year.
"Over at Hogan she was one of our top players," said Bethel head coach Ann Talamantes-Ristow. "Kresta is very competitive; she pushes herself to be a good player."
Talamantes-Ristow has coached Tabaranza since she was a freshman at Hogan and has seen improvement from her every single season.
"She's good all around and moves well on the court on the court," Talamantes-Ristow said. "She's also a lefty and they usually don't return the birdie well against her."
Honorable mention:
* LoriAnn Hormigoso (Bethel badminton) won a pivotal match against Rodriguez to help Bethel remain undefeated in SCAC play.
* Daseion Cole and Tajai Johnson (SCAC all-stars) Each player scored 18 points to lead the Solano County Athletic Conference to a 102-97 win over a group of Monticello Empire League stars.
Posted: 04/17/2012 01:02:16 AM PDT
Bethel High School badminton player Kresta Tabaranza brought a whole bunch of her friends from Hogan High.
Tabaranza, a senior, is one of seven badminton players to come over to Bethel after Hogan closed its doors last summer and now she is the first of them earn Times-Herald Athlete of the Week. She earned the honor after a three-set victory over Benicia then a two-set win against top rival Rodriguez. The Jaguars won the tight match, 9-6.
Bethel (9-1, 8-0) is undefeated in Solano County Athletic Conference play and is looking to win the league title that eluded them the last two seasons. The win against the Mustangs was especially sweet after two losses to Rodriguez last season cost them a chance at the league crown.
"There is definitely a lot of pressure," Tabaranza said of her match against Rodriguez. "We really had to take each game seriously."
Tabaranza said that it was very nice to be undefeated in the SCAC so far this season. She said that the team often felt they were underdogs considering there were players from two different schools on Bethel's team.
Having so many familiar faces on the team has helped with team chemistry.
Stephany Arellano, Dana Guevarra, Jane Vega, Lori Ann Hormigosa, Jenica Ocampo and Ann Magday all came over from Hogan, along with Tabaranza.
"It wasn't a lot of pressure," Tabaranza said of moving from Hogan to Bethel. "There was a lot of motivation on varsity because a lot of us from Hogan had been together
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since freshman year."
Competition is often fierce in practice as position during matches is determined by challenges during practice. Tabaranza has consistently been one of the top players. She been anywhere from No. 1 to No. 3 this season but regardless of position Tabaranza has not lost a single match this year.
"Over at Hogan she was one of our top players," said Bethel head coach Ann Talamantes-Ristow. "Kresta is very competitive; she pushes herself to be a good player."
Talamantes-Ristow has coached Tabaranza since she was a freshman at Hogan and has seen improvement from her every single season.
"She's good all around and moves well on the court on the court," Talamantes-Ristow said. "She's also a lefty and they usually don't return the birdie well against her."
Honorable mention:
* LoriAnn Hormigoso (Bethel badminton) won a pivotal match against Rodriguez to help Bethel remain undefeated in SCAC play.
* Daseion Cole and Tajai Johnson (SCAC all-stars) Each player scored 18 points to lead the Solano County Athletic Conference to a 102-97 win over a group of Monticello Empire League stars.
