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Badminton is therapy for Desert Edge

BY KARLI KARANGES

West Valley View Contributing Writer

The fall season has come to a close for Desert Edge High School badminton. The team finished the season with a record of 7-7, ranked No. 20. However, it wasn’t practice that got them their wins throughout the season. The Scorpions got through their season together, through therapy.

Desert Edge is a relatively young team, with this year’s season being just their fourth year as an official program. Nonetheless, head coach Stephen Kraynick was still setting goals for the team and anticipating a strong season for the Scorpions.

“We’re really good, actually. I have had very high expectations this year,” Kraynick said. “Our goal was to try to make the top 20 in the state, because we are only year four. We are still a fairly young team. Some of these kids have been with me for two or three years now, so I have a nice core group of people. I really think we can make our goal overall this year.”

And they did. The Scorpions were cutting it close, but they were able to achieve their goal. In their singles and doubles matches, the Desert Edge badminton team fought their way through the season and made it to the top 20. However, it was not just their skills as athletes that helped the Scorpions reach their goal.

In singles, the athletic skills of a player plays a strong role in winning a match.

“In singles, you have much more court available to you and so you have to come up with a different game plan. It’s more athletic and it’s more of a grinding type, but those who have a stronger mental view usually will do much better,” Kraynick said.

In doubles, finding the right partner plays an even bigger role.

“Doubles is completely different. You have a partner, less court, less space, but not always. So, with that, you have to plan your team’s strengths and weaknesses and have them compliment each other, whereas in singles it’s just you. You try to find a nice balance so it is almost like you have a complete player out there,” he added.

However, if you were to ask the Scorpions what the most important skill to have during a match is, they would say you would need to have the mental skill.

Most of the girls on the Desert Edge badminton have been playing singles and doubles for their high school for two or three years. Having both the athletic skills and the mental skills to switch their mindset and gameplay back and forth for every match.

However, that is not the part of the game that sticks out in their minds. The Scorpions say that the mental aspect of it all is what they love most about the sport of badminton.

“When I’m feeling relaxed that’s when I enjoy it the most. I know I can put in my best effort. Just knowing that when the birdie comes, it’s my time to shine and I’m ready to hit it,” senior Melissa Leor said.

“It’s therapeutic, honestly. Our coach literally calls practice therapy. It’s a great stress reliever,” senior Anyanka Carlson said.

“I like how it can release stress, and I believe that is my biggest strength too,” junior Kaylyn Huynh added.

Being able to keep it fun, stay connected with your doubles partner, use each practice and game therapeutically, and stay relaxed while also letting out some steam are the skills. These are the aspects of the game that the team loves the most and believes matter the most.

“We don’t call our practices ‘practices.’ We call them ‘therapy sessions,’” Kraynick said.

Desert Edge’s badminton program, which finished as the No. 20 team in Division II, used the game as a therapy session for players to bond and overcome other challenges they face in life.

(Photo by Karli Karanges)

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Christ Community Church hosting fall craft fair

BY ALLISON BROWN

West Valley View Staff Writer

Enjoy a free, fun family afternoon while contributing to a good cause with the Fall Craft Festival hosted by Christ Community United Methodist Church on Saturday, Nov. 6.

“We plan to use it to connect to the community and somewhat as a fundraiser, as so many churches have been affected by COVID,” said Mary Hollan, worship director at the church and event organizer.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church parking lot with 16 local vendors with a variety of crafts and goods.

“Some are going to be doing jewelry; some are doing woodcraft baskets,” she said. “We’re doing some Christmas wreaths, designer rocks, painted pots with aloe vera plants, and many tables of baked goods.”

Hollan said the church offered low entry fees for crafters to give “the little guys” a chance to show their work. She wanted to give newcomers a chance to try it out, given the competition at local fairs and the negative financial impact on many crafters and artists throughout COVID-19. In addition to the vendors and goodies, the church has other fun events planned to keep attendees entertained. “It’s fun for the family, with a fall background photo booth, cornhole game and a food truck vendor,” Hollan said. “We also have a caricature artist who will be doing a cartoon drawing of you right there.”

There will also be a raffle with a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.

The event and activities are free, and Hollan said she is hoping to have 300 to 500 people. This is the first year the church has hosted the festival, but Hollan said they would like to make it an annual tradition.

The initiative to start the festival came from trying to find a way to connect with not just church members but the entire community again. They also wanted to give people a chance to interact again after being separated for the past year and a half.

On top of that, the event will help raise funds for the church. Vendors will keep all profits from their sales, but 100% of the fees for the booths will go to Christ Community United Methodist Church to help with operational costs.

“Right now, the funds are helping to provide money for several ministries,” Hollan said. “That includes our annual women’s retreat; our youth project, which is always making sure kids are involved with things, so any outings they have; and an outreach program.”

Sixteen vendors will sell a variety of local crafts and goods at the Christ Community United Methodist Church’s Fall Craft Festival. (Submitted photo) Mary Hollan, worship director at the Christ Community United Methodist Church, is organizing the Fall Craft Festival. (Submitted photo)

If You Go...

WHAT: Fall Craft Festival

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6

WHERE: Christ Community United Methodist Church, 104 W. Western Avenue, Avondale

COST: Free

INFO: myccumc.com

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WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS | NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Agua Fria alumni raising money for museum

EMCC’s Veterans Day ceremony returns to campus

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

The Litchfi eld Park Historical Society and Museum will host the benefi t concert “A Musical Homecoming” with six talented alumni from Agua Fria High School at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, in its auditorium.

“Whether you are an alum or not, this is going to be a fantastic concert,” said Judy Fulton, Litchfi eld Park Historical Society board member and event chair.

“We are so excited to welcome home these amazing Agua Fria graduates to showcase their talent together, especially since this year marks Agua Fria High School’s 65th anniversary.”

The performers include Matt Cartsonis, who plays mandolin, banjo and guitar. He has recorded with folk icon Pete Seeger, Ringo Starr and Beck, and toured with Glen Campbell and Warren Zevon. He’s also performed on television with Steve Martin.

Tom Rhodes learned to play several string instruments growing up and later toured with Nashville recording artist Tommy Overstreet.

Paul “Pablo” Richards has performed vocals, bass, guitar, and keyboards in a variety of bands throughout Arizona and Florida, while Reade Whitwell studied with American jazz drummer Henry Adler.

Other performers include siblings Kathleen and Jesse Berger. She is a trained opera singer who appeared on the national and international stages. Her brother co-founded the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute show, December ’63. An alumnus of Arizona Broadway Theater, he has toured regionally and nationally.

The evening will also include storytelling by Mark Compton of the West Side Storytellers.

For tickets, visit lphsmuseum.org. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

Estrella Mountain Community College is gearing up for its eighth Veterans Day Ceremony and Fun Run, which will be held in person this year on Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Estrella North Plaza on campus, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale.

“It was held virtually last year due to COVID,” said Robert Dorsett, student services manager, Veterans Services. “We still had a great turnout, but these events are always more enjoyable when they’re in person. There’s that camaraderie while walking or running together, sharing breakfast, and honoring our service members during a live ceremony.”

The day kicks off with the 5K Fun Run at 7:30 a.m. followed by the Warrior’s Breakfast at 8:45 a.m., and fi nally the Veterans Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. The city of Avondale will also livestream the ceremony on Facebook.

The entry fee for the 5K costs $11.11 for veterans and military members and $25 for the general public. Proceeds benefi t EMCC’s Veterans Increasing Persistence Program (VIPP), which assists veterans in fi nancial situations that may prevent them from going to school or completing a degree.

EMCC is a certifi ed Arizona Veteran Supportive Campus that serves upward of 900 veterans and their families every year.

If You Go...

WHAT: Veterans Day Ceremony and Fun Run WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11 WHERE: Estrella North Plaza, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale COST: $11.11 to $25 for fun run INFO: estrellamountain.edu/vetfunrun

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ANSWERS ON PAGE 21

King Crossword

ACROSS

1 Landed 5 Gearwheel tooth 8 Slightly 12 Sultry Horne 13 “-- you serious?” 14 Barn roof spinner 15 Strict disciplinarian 17 Noble Italian family 18 Swift 19 Sculpted trunks 21 Old Olds 22 Doctor Zhivago 23 Wye follower 26 Moreover 28 On edge 31 Sciences’ partner 33 Observe 35 Campus VIP 36 “Hogwash!” 38 Finale 40 Water tester 41 Love god 43 Inherited 45 Painter’s motion 47 Reduces 51 Nashville’s st. 52 Instrument in a Dixieland band 54 Couturier Cassini 55 Stannum 56 Pinta’s companion 57 Favorites 58 Norm (Abbr.) 59 Vortex

DOWN

1 Charitable gift 2 Bound 3 Concerning 4 Spud 5 Big gorges 6 Mine yield 7 Oil tycoon J. Paul -8 Declared 9 Baby’s bed 10 Division word 11 Casual tops 16 Notion 20 Ump’s call 23 Hit with a ray gun 24 Triage ctrs. 25 System for linking computers 27 Ruby of films 29 -- Paulo, Brazil 30 Away from WSW 32 Island wraps 34 Queen’s domain 37 Stir-fry pan 39 Entryway 42 Factions 44 Packing string 45 Halt 46 Far (Pref.) 48 Author Bagnold 49 Tear 50 Remain 53 Torched

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!