Boys badminton: Smithtown East tries to stay on top

It's a birdie . . . it's a

racket . . . it's the

Smithtown East boys

badminton team.

Ending the regular season with a 14-0 record last season, the Smithtown East boys were the supermen of Suffolk. Returning three of their top five singles players, junior Eric Hirschfield looks for another 12-0 season in singles.

Senior Tyler Kraese in No. 5 singles was the only singles winner for Smithtown East at the county team championships and senior Matt Keys returns to No. 2 doubles after winning in counties with graduate Kevin Smith. The Bulls boast a new pair of Patricks, Hughes and Edsell.

Half Hollow Hills edged the undefeated team in the county finals, earning the team title after a 12-2 season. Hills returns with its two winning doubles teams of junior Chad Davis and senior David Weiner, 7-6 last season and seniors James Song and Will Choi, 5-0 last season. The Thunder Colts have two promising new seniors in Jeffery Riguer and Chris Guan, who hope to help the team return to the championship.

Sophomore Jesse Dietrichson is a player to watch, competing in No. 1 singles for Miller Place. He made it to the semifinals in singles in the individual tournament after his team took third place in the county. Dietrichson finished with a 9-5 record that matched Miller Place's 9-5 team mark. He will face tough competition in Justin Liu of Smithtown West.

"Badminton on Long Island was originally for girls only," Miller Place coach Don Pranzo said. "Patricia McCarrick, the Miller Place coach, encouraged schools to allow boys to play 'exhibition matches' and now we find ourselves equal opportunity with separate scoring."

Now the eight Suffolk teams are here to fight for leagues, counties, and the Badminton Way.