Fall Preview: MP badminton shooting for 4-straight state titles

So what do they do for an encore?

There are three seniors among the five on this year's Mountain Pointe badminton team that haven't finished the season with anything less than a state championship.

The Pride have seven state trophies, including three straight, and a fourth isn't out of the question.

At least seniors Kathryn Cantrill, Melissa LeBlanc and Alisha Howe don't think so.

"We have some mature players on the varsity this year," Mountain Pointe coach Pom Brown explained. "There are five seniors and they all want (the title) because this is their last year and they want something to remember."

No team has ever won three state badminton titles in a row, let alone four. The Pride also horde more state trophies than any other "big school" in the state.

That still hasn't earned them the respect that usually comes with a dynasty.

If there is anything going for the Pride besides experience and maturity it's that they have always been underdogs, including last season when they put together a perfect 18-0 season then knocked off Chandler and Corona del Sol for the championship.

Chandler lost four seniors of last season's team but Corona is expected to return four seniors and a junior. Even Phoenix Xavier, which is normally included among the state elite despite losing in the opening round of the playoffs last season, returns all but superstar Vianett Mena.

Mountain Pointe graduated three seniors, including the No. 1 player, Ashley Dreas, Sam Morrison and Laura Robertson.

Howe, Cantrill and LeBlanc will move into those spots. They were ranked third, fourth and fifth respectively last season.

Alisha Nanda, Arieona Boyle and Sienna Martinez are being elevated from the junior varsity.

Nanda, like Cantrill has experience in the Pride varsity tennis team. Martinez, projected as the No. 5 play on the playing ladder, also plays softball. Courtney Dupuis, who could be called on to fill in on varsity, also plays softball.

"We don't know what everyone else did over the summer or if they had open gyms," Brown said. "But we can't be overconfident with these kinds of teams out there."

The Pride are scheduled to open the defense of their title on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Gilbert.