Ray Ngan, Ethan Wu on way to county badminton titles for GN South
Ray Ngan of Great Neck South serves during a first singles boys badminton match against Syosset's Salvatore Lo (not pictured) at Syosset on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. Credit: James Escher
Ray Ngan and Ethan Wu are well on their way to county badminton titles. That is according to their coach Janine Sadaka and their undefeated record. Ngan and Wu along with the rest of the Great Neck South team ended Syosset’s undefeated streak, 7-0, in Nassau I.
“It feels great to be unbeaten so far,” Wu said. “I’m hoping to complete the season unbeaten.”
Wu is a second singles player who won an individual county title last season. He played Eric Wang in a back and forth match that ended with a 21-14, 18-21, 21-14 victory.
“It was a difficult match. I came back from being sick and I missed [Wednesday’s] training,” Wu said. “It was an even match and fortunately I had the upper hand and a little luck.”
Ngan plays first singles and defeated Salvatore Lo, 21-7, 21-11.
“Ethan and Ray are two stand outs,” Sadaka said. “They are great team players and exceptional athletes.”
Josh Hom and Evan Lo defeated Noah Lee and Matthew Ardizzone, 21-12, 21-7, in first doubles. And in second doubles Ernest Fok and Kenny Huang beat Richard Wang and Andre Kirokonan, 21-19, 21-8.
Wu and Ngan lead the way for the Rebels (7-0) to last season’s county final. They lost to Great Neck North, 4-3. Wu is confident that Ngan and himself can lead the team again and come out with a win.
“I feel like this year the team is one of the best we’ve had in [Great Neck South] history,” Wu said. “I feel like we can take it all. There’s a lot of trust on the team and we all motivate each other to be in that top spot.”
