Led by head coach Wendy McCleary, the badminton team prepares for the 2026 competitive season with the highest expectations yet.
Last season during conference, JV came in third while varsity came in sixth. Last year’s team was made up of many underclassmen due to the 2024 varsity mainly being made up of seniors. This season, the varsity team will have the advantage of seniority and experience with many returning players.
“Last year’s season was a lot of reorganization due to a big senior group having graduated from the past season,” McCleary said. “[This year], most of the varsity badminton players will be returning for another season. This upcoming season will bring back many experienced players.”
As a whole, badminton struggles with getting proper recognition, but attention towards the sport is continuously growing. Since its addition to the athletic department in 2018, badminton has been slowly but surely on a rise. The Lemont High School badminton team has a “no-cut” policy, allowing many students, even without prior experience, to try it out and participate in something new.
“Badminton, as a competitive sport, has become more recognized throughout the years to athletes,” McCleary said.
The varsity team’s first meet will occur on March 16 at the Joliet West Quad. We wish both the JV and varsity teams the best of luck this season.
