By Marcus Tolero
Women's Badminton is back.
Today at City College of San Francisco the Women’s Badminton team returns to the court after a one year hiatus to face Fresno City College at 3pm. This will be the first CCSF Badminton home match since the Spring 2014 season.
This year's team will be guided by first-year head coach Monique Calvello. Calvello, who is also an assistant coach for the Women's Basketball team, said she is looking forward to leading the program back to its former glory.
"I think the type of coach I am, I always aim for the top. We're going to work that way every day," Calvello said. "My excitement is totally bubbling but I'm more anxious because we're nearing the season."
The Badminton team was one of the more successful athletic programs at CCSF prior to the one year off from competitive play. The team was then led by former head coaches Coni Staff and Fred Glosser. In a seven-year span from 2006 to 2012, the Rams captured the 2010 Team State Championship and 2012 State Individual Doubles Championship, won four consecutive Coast Conference Championships, and finished State Runner-Up in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2012.
After the 2014 season, Staff decided to vacate her head coaching position due to family concerns. The CCSF Athletic Program searched in earnest to find a head coach but could not fill the position in time for the beginning of the next season, thus the decision was made to forgo the 2015 Badminton season.
But now that Badminton is back and with a new head coach, Staff said that officially handing over the head-coaching reigns was tough.
“I love this sport and was lucky enough to work with wonderful student-athletes and lead the team with a very knowledgeable and skilled coach in Fred (Glosser). The years with Badminton will always be years that I will dearly cherish in my career.
“She (Calvello) has put in a lot of time in learning the intricacies of the game, and we've had many conversations together. We share a lot about coaching philosophy and specifics about coaching the sport. I feel very good about her leadership of the program going forward.”
Although she in no longer officially part of Intercollegiate Badminton, Staff serves as an outside mentor for Calvello and will assist with all home matches. She will also be present at some practices. Calvello, who spent the past year preparing for the season, said the guidance she has received from Staff has been invaluable, especially since this is her first-ever head coaching position.
"Coni is tremendous with helping me with organization and understanding the culture of the sport. She's been a badminton translator for me," Calvello said.
The return to playoff appearances and championships are goals that Calvello would like to accomplish in her first year; however, she understands that building the team first is priority number one.
"I'm looking for personal development within the women and team building and having them work together. I foresee us being really successful, and we're going to try to get to that level where Coni and Fred had us," Calvello said.