Central Cyclones Mixed Badminton Pair Aims to Defend Provincial Gold
Micah Salido Porter and Tara Nguyen, the Grade 12 mixed doubles duo from Central Collegiate in Moose Jaw, are preparing to defend their provincial badminton title as they enter their final high school season. After capturing gold at the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA) provincial championships last year, the pair says they are focused on repeating as champions in 2026.
The Central Cyclones mixed badminton pair Micah Salido Porter and Tara Nguyen pose during a visit to DiscoverMooseJaw ahead of the postseason run, highlighting their readiness for another title challenge. Speaking about their preparation, Salido Porter emphasized the months of club competition across Saskatchewan they’ve undertaken to stay sharp.
“For the last few months, we’ve been playing club all across the province, and we’ve been trying our best to keep our title — and we will do it again this year,” Salido Porter said.
Nguyen added that defending a championship brings unique motivation, saying it will be “really nice to have it again as defending champions” and expressing her desire for the team to achieve that goal.
“I really want us to be able to achieve that,” Nguyen said.
The duo’s confidence is backed by a strong team performance from Central Collegiate. Earlier in April 2026, the Cyclones secured the Moose Jaw Senior City Badminton Championship with 17 team points, edging out Vanier Collegiate’s 14 points to claim the local title.
According to verified results from the city championship held on April 21, 2026, Salido Porter and Nguyen not only contributed to the team victory but also won first place in the mixed doubles category. Their Central teammates Yunlin Fu and Nora Shi took second in the same event, while Vanier’s Marky Salva and Gwen Panaguiton finished third.
The Central Cyclones’ success extended across all disciplines at the city championship. Zen Quimio and Carson Osmachenko claimed first and second in boys singles, with Vanier’s Kobe Catibog taking third. In girls singles, Vanier’s Gwen Baluyut won gold, followed by Cornerstone’s Hailey Doyle in second and Central’s Yola Qiu in third.
For doubles events, Cornerstone’s Ademide Adewumi and Payton Fisher won girls doubles, with Vanier’s Evelyn White and Charlotte Mallari in second and Central’s Adyson Hanson and Cici Liu in third. In boys doubles, Vanier’s Cjay Parreno and Meynard Picones took first, while Central’s Cole Burnham and Jackson Voth earned second and Austin Smith and Exhuase Isingoma finished third.
Salido Porter credited the team’s depth and chemistry for their success, noting that “all of us won a medal” at the city championship, which he described as “very nice.” He added that the group is now looking ahead to district competition scheduled for April 25, 2026.
Nguyen pointed to consistent practices and strong team cohesion as key factors in the Cyclones’ performance this season.
“We work really well as a team,” she said. “All of us are improving better than at the start of the season.”
The pair’s provincial gold defense effort comes as they complete their final year of high school eligibility. Last season’s provincial victory marked a breakthrough for Central’s badminton program, and returning as defending champions adds both pressure and motivation heading into the postseason.
As of now, no further updates on their playoff progression or provincial tournament scheduling have been released through verified channels. The next confirmed checkpoint for the Central Cyclones badminton team is their participation in district-level competition on April 25, 2026, as referenced by Salido Porter in his remarks about the team’s immediate plans following the city championship.
Fans of high school badminton in Saskatchewan can follow updates through local Moose Jaw media outlets and school athletic communications for confirmation on when and where the provincial championships will be held later this spring.
What are your thoughts on Central’s chances to repeat as provincial champions? Share your predictions in the comments below.
