Badminton is often thought of as a game that is played at the family cookout or on a warm day at the park,
not a sport. Few know of its professional side or its 
reputation as one of the most intense and fast-paced
sports in the world. These professional players train for years to hone their speed and accuracy, but are still 
underestimated because of the casual viewer’s lack of knowledge about the sport. 
  Badminton has centuries-old roots, originating from a
game called “battledore and 
shuttlecock,” different variants of which were played in ancient civilizations such as Greece, 
China, and India. The 
modern version of the sport became popular in the 
middle of the 19th century in 
British India and eventually spread worldwide, becoming an Olympic sport in 1992.
  However, the sport has never gotten much 
recognition in the United States. This is due to the fact that there is already an abundance of 
professional sports leagues in the United States. 
However, times are changing: the UBX Pro League, the  first 
professional badminton league in North America, will launch in 2025. The UBX Pro League’s goal is to make badminton more prominent. Here at PHS, the 
Badminton Club has begun implementing this same 
initiative, which has introduced many more students to the sport.   
    Founded by William Yao ’24, the Badminton Club strives to create camaraderie among the student body through badminton. Although badminton is played in most gym classes during the winter, Yao noticed that many students view the sport as simple recreation or even as a chore due to its association with the class.             
 Through his dedicated 
leadership, the club has 
created an inclusive 
environment in which 
students of all backgrounds can come together to enjoy the sport. 
 As an immigrant, Yao realized that 
badminton isn’t as popular in America as it is China, so founding the club was his way to not only expand the variety of options students had for sports, but also to teach others about an important part of his culture by trying new things.
   “We have [this] club to [introduce other] people to our  culture,” said Yao. “It’s brought more of the  people who weren’t involved in sports together … [people can] come in and have fun with their friends.” 
   There are a few basic techniques needed to play a game, such as different serve types, which are easy to learn and put into practice, making accessible badminton accessible. 
  Aside from the sport’s convenience and accessibility, club co-leader Nags Muthiah ’25 also places great value on badminton’s recreational and unifying potential. 
  Although few U.S. schools have an official badminton team, many, including PHS, have clubs that occasionally play friendly matches with each other. This makes the club members hopeful about the creation of an official team. 
   “We’re gathering up to make a team and we play against other schools,” said Yao. “Our first match was against 
Basking Ridge in November last year.” 
 These matches were entirely 
organized by students, from funding to 
transportation and any other resources the players required. 
Badminton is yet to have a large impact,  but Muthiah remains optimistic on its potential influence. 
   “I don’t think it’s changed the culture at PHS ... yet, since the Badminton Club still feels [very] small. I’d say it 
changes more like the break culture,” said Muthiah. “It opens up a new activity to do at lunch time, Tiger Time, or if you have a free and if you want to join someone’s gym class.” 
   Although badminton may not become an official sport at PHS for a long time, as the sport is steadily gaining 
popularity through the Badminton Club, with true 
potential to positively impact the whole PHS community through its emphasis on inclusion, fun, and connection. 
   “We had few people [when I started]... we have way more people now,” Yao said.   


Badminton birdie catches wind at PHS

As the clock counts down and anticipation rises, thousands of soccer fans from all over the world cheer for their favorite team, eyes glued to the ball on the field. Whether they’re watching in person or online, it doesn’t matter who scores; each goal is met with roars of excitement. At the end of the game, every fan feels even more connected with the team they were rooting for, whether they are celebrating with them after a well deserved win or supporting them through a tough loss.

Soccer, also known as football, is one of the most popular sports in the world. There is a reason for this—soccer is more than just a sport; it is a force that promotes solidarity through competition and inclusion. As a versatile sport that requires little costly special equipment, soccer can be played by people from all walks of life. So it is no surprise that soccer, and its close variant futsal, have a huge presence in the PHS community.

Ryan Walsh, math teacher and head coach of the PHS soccer team, spoke passionately about soccer’s role in encouraging inclusivity and community spirit. 

“[Soccer] is a sport that brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences,” he said.

At PHS, apart from the girls and boys soccer team, there are clubs like the Futsal Club that students can join to play the sport outside of the soccer season. While soccer is normally played outdoors, futsal can be played inside and uses a smaller court, making it even more accessible for students. These communities within PHS bring students from all different backgrounds together through intense and fast-paced but fun competition.

Nicholas Matese ’24, the current captain of the boys soccer team and leader of Futsal Club has made several important changes. He made the club even more welcoming by expanding futsal throughout the PHS community.

“We expanded the team limit to allow for more people to have a chance to play,” said Matese. “Not only does it get more players involved, it also creates a larger fan environment.”

Matese is also proud of the positive influences that the Futsal Club has had, particularly the convergence of diverse people who would not have met under normal circumstances. He pays particular attention to the needs of different players in order to make futsal enjoyable for everyone and promotes understanding and communication.

“We also make efforts to ensure those with special needs have an opportunity to play, and it is great how inclusive the rest of the players are to everyone,” Matese said.

By actively seeking out new members interested in the sport, the Futsal Club has become a place that transcends traditional barriers that may otherwise usually prevent people from communicating with each other. By providing students with the opportunity to bond and improve, clubs like the Futsal Club truly reflect the PHS’s core ideals: pride in diversity and striving for excellence, and how these ideas fuse together into a unique and inclusive environment.

The community that is built from the PHS Futsal Club and other areas of PHS has translated over to the high school’s soccer team, which showed their prowess by winning the Group IV State Championship in 2023. Success stories like these only continue to enhance Princeton High School’s community in essentially a positive reinforcement pattern.

Reflecting on the recent triumphs of the PHS soccer team, including the Group IV state championship victory in 2023, Walsh stressed the great impact of soccer on the broader community.

“Seeing alumni, who played at PHS five to 15 years ago, and community members passionately enjoying this once in a lifetime moment with the current team was special to see,” said Walsh. “This celebration represents the power of soccer to transcend generations and create lasting connections in the community.”

Indeed, soccer at PHS extends beyond the playing field; it is a promoter of personal growth and development. Through prioritizing the importance of sportsmanship, respect, and positive engagement, Walsh and his coaching staff try to teach valuable life lessons that extend far beyond athletics.

“Winning [soccer] games is just one aspect of being a head coach. More importantly, I want to turn teenagers into good standing young adults.” Walsh said.

The Tower

Thomsen Lord's Work

The Tower