In 2015, the inaugural season for the boys’ badminton team, the Bears went 0-16 as they navigated the landscape of a new sport populated by some of the largest schools on Long Island. This afternoon, in just their fourth year as a program, they reached the pinnacle, clinching the outright League II Championship with a 6-3 victory over Walt Whitman.

The Bears avenged a 3-6 loss to the Wildcats earlier this season to improve to 12-3 overall, breaking the program wins record set last year, and 8-1 in League II to clinch the title, the 153rd League Championship in school history.

Ulysses Zhang scored first for the Brook, winning a spirited 4th singles match, 15-1, 15-8. The senior hit a number of deft shots that broke up the typically staid atmosphere with raucous cheers. It was clear from the outset that the Bears knew what was on the line and Zhang’s sharp play helped set the tone.

Sam Han and Sam Wong followed shortly after with a three-set win at 3rd doubles, 17-14, 9-15, 15-9. At almost the same time, across the gym, Tony Yu closed his tightly contested 2nd singles match, 15-9, 6-15, 15-9. Kevin Zhang made quick work of his opponent in his 3rd singles match, 15-8, 15-5, to build a 4-2 lead for the Bears. Jerry Liu follow with a dominant performance at first singles, 15-11, 15-0, to emphatically seal the win for the Bears. David Wang completed the singles sweep with a 15-12, 7-15, 15-12 win at 5th singles.

The Bears close the regular season on Tuesday at Smithtown East.

_____________________________________________________________